23 Oct, 2016

City of Adelaide leading the way in support for electric vehicles

City of Adelaide is rolling out at least 40 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city, including 10 charging points in the Adelaide Central Market UPark by the end of 2017.

The Council’s Sustainability Incentives Scheme will also provide up to $5,000 for each electric vehicle charging point and up to $250 for each electric bicycle point that city property owners and tenants install, including commercial car parks.

The 10 charging points in the Central Market UPark will incorporate a smart green parking system that will actively manage dedicated electric vehicle parking space availability during times of high parking demand. The system will monitor and match actual electric vehicle parking demand in peak periods so that an accelerated roll out of electric vehicle charging points can be achieved without reducing total parking space availability for other vehicles.

In another first for the City of Adelaide, this initiative will result in Australia’s highest concentration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Council has had four electric vehicle charging points in two of its UParks providing free charging since 2010. New charging stations will provide free charging services for permanent reserved and casual parkers until at least 2020 and possibly 2025, when it is expected that electric vehicles will be commonplace on our roads.

By providing more free charging stations in Council’s UPark car parks and incentives for households, businesses and property owners to install charging points throughout the city, it is expected that more people and fleet managers will be encouraged to purchase electric vehicles.

City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese said that this was another step toward making Adelaide one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities.

“One of the priority actions in Council’s new Strategic Plan is to provide a range of incentives to support and encourage an accelerated uptake of electric vehicles within our community.

“Currently 35 per cent of Adelaide’s carbon emissions come from transport and 90 per cent of that is private car travel.

“Global manufacturers are redesigning their vehicle fleets for an autonomous and electric future and the city is preparing for this reality. It’s about making changes that encourage the take-up of new technology that will decarbonise transport.

“I’m extremely enthusiastic about the benefits that electric vehicles will bring to the city. They are quieter, cheaper to run, and better for the environment.

“We believe that getting our transport mix right will help us achieve our carbon neutral goal, as well as lead to better outcomes for residents, the economy and local business, create investment opportunities, and increase the liveability of our city.”

This weekend Adelaide hosted the Australian Electric Vehicles Association’s (AEVA) annual meeting, including an expo of electric vehicles.

AEVA’s South Australian Branch Chairperson, Mr Paul Koch said of the announcement, “The perception of anxiety about the range of electric vehicles is a huge barrier for many, and is the most common question asked about owning an electric vehicle.

“This number of charging stations spread across the city will work at removing this barrier. Our Association strongly supports initiatives like this which will increase the uptake of electric vehicles, and create a more sustainable future. It’s just fantastic.”

Heath Walker from electric car manufacturer Tesla said, “Tesla congratulates Adelaide on its continued national leadership with incentives for energy storage systems such as the Powerwall, and electric vehicle charging points. This important initiative will assist city businesses, hotels and public car parks to bring forward the installation of Tesla destination chargers.”

Mitsubishi Motors National PHEV Sales Manager Craig Norris said, “Mitsubishi Motors Australia welcomes the announcement of this fantastic initiative by City of Adelaide and the Lord Mayor.

“Mitsubishi Motors Australia was first to market in Australia with a mass produced electric vehicle in 2010 and followed with Australia's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2014, the Outlander PHEV, which is currently the highest-selling vehicle of its type in Australia.

“We are proud to offer our support to City of Adelaide and are looking forward to working with them and their partners to increase the uptake of low emission and no emission vehicles and sustainable transport within South Australia.”

Council is working in other ways to support the community to reduce their energy use. The Sustainability Incentives Scheme, a pool of $300,000 half funded by the State Government, provides incentives for residents and businesses to install solar PV, energy storage, energy saving technology and EV charging points.

Council has also recently launched a Solar Savers scheme which will enable low-income earners and residential tenants of rental properties benefit from the savings from solar PV, and the $1 million Greener Streets program will see more street trees and green walls to reduce heat as well as increase the appeal and liveability of the city.

“Carbon Neutral Adelaide informs everything Council is doing right now – from asset renewal, to our procurement and waste management,” Lord Mayor Haese said.

“History shows that those who act first globally and embrace new ideas or technologies will reap the economic rewards. This is a once in a generation chance to capitalise on future economic growth as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy.”

Paula Stevens