Greens want ACT 100% EV by 2035

THE Australian Capital Territory (ACT) could be set to become the greenest state or territory in the country within the next 10 to 15 years if an ambitious new plan put forward by the Greens comes to fruition.

Centring around Canberra, the state party says its ‘rEVolution’ plan will “dramatically increase electric vehicle use in the ACT” with a targeted 90 per cent of all new cars sold to be zero emission vehicles by 2030, climbing 100 per cent by 2035.

While it does not seem like there is a planned ban for the sale of internal combustion engine cars as there is in the United Kingdom, there is some $50million worth of incentives in the works to help sweeten the deal.

“This is an ambitious target, considering Australia is already lagging far behind other countries in terms of zero-emission take up, infrastructure, and policy support,” the party said in a statement.

“In 2019 just 0.83 per cent of new-car sales in the ACT were electric vehicles.

“Targets are essential to signal to vehicle manufacturers and other businesses that the ACT government is committed to transitioning the ACT to EVs, and therefore is a place to do business.”

Of the planned $50 million, $28.5m will be set aside for subsidies of up to $10,000 for private buying individuals, half of which ($5000) will be a no-interest loan and therefore will need to be paid back.

$10m will be set aside for a community grants scheme backing community groups and not for profit organisations.

Local businesses likewise will have access to a $10m grants fund to help them purchase EVs for fleet purposes while another $3m will be set aside to assist with the installation of charging infrastructure at private and commercial residences.

“This will apply to new and used zero-emission vehicles, which include electric cars, motorbikes, and commercial vehicles,” a spokesperson said.

The same 2035 goal applies to public transport fleet, rubbish trucks, taxis and rideshare vehicles, albeit without the $50m fund.

To cater for such a rapid EV take-up, the electric-vehicle charging infrastructure will need to be drastically expanded both on a private and commercial basis.

Up to 50 locations across Canberra will be decided on following public consultation while a ‘reverse auction’ will be held in order to settle on a proponent(s) to build, install and maintain the new charging stations.

As for the regions, the Greens say the party would facilitate a “cooperative program to coordinate the installation of rapid charging infrastructure along major routes”.

On top of the funding and grants outlined above, annual EV registrations will reportedly be covered by the Greens between 2021 and 2024 to help kick-start the plan while existing vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home projects will be expanded to add more strength to the developing charging infrastructure.