A new strategy to power EVs in Western Australia will see Australia’s – and one of the world’s – longest EV charging infrastructure network established from Perth to Kununurra in the north, Esperance in the south and Kalgoorlie in the east.
WA’s Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to support EV uptake, reduce emissions, drive economic growth and create jobs as a key part of the Western Australian Climate Policy with the McGowan government investing almost $21 million in an Electric Vehicle Fund.
Fast charging stations are planned along major travel routes in the regions, town and city centres, and tourism sites – increasingly powered by renewable energy to help reduce transport greenhouse gases.
The state government intends leading by example, increasing its own EV fleet by setting a minimum 25% EV target by 2025-2026.
EV charging stations will be installed in government buildings for about $800,000 to support that.
The strategy will also facilitate EV uptake by developing and updating standards, guidelines, and requirements for planning approval, as well as improving levels of consumer awareness and knowledge, say premier Mark McGowan, environment minister Stephen Dawson, and innovation and ICT minister Dave Kelly.
It supports the uptake of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), aligned with the Western Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy, as well as initiatives in the Future Battery Industry Strategy released in 2019.
“Electric vehicles provide a pathway towards decarbonising road transport and improving air quality in Western Australia,” McGowan says.
“Western Australia has the skills, infrastructure and standards to become a key player in the global battery value chain.
“The global uptake of electric vehicles is one of the most exciting opportunities for Western Australia to create jobs and support economic growth the economy as part of the low-carbon transition.”
Kelly says the EV Strategy will see WA house one of the world’s longest EV charging infrastructure networks in a single state.
Dawson adds that increasing EV uptake will help meet the McGowan government’s aspiration of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The WA government will invest in two hydrogen refuelling stations, vehicle to grid (V2G) charging, and continue supporting an electric automated trials which include the RAC Intellibus.
It will also encourage the federal government to introduce vehicle CO2 emission standards in line with other developed countries.
The strategy suggests accelerating EV uptake in WA will provide public health benefits of more than $20 million annually through reducing air pollution.
The WA government will put more than $100 million toward a 100MW battery in Kwinana in Perth to store excess solar energy and stabilise the power network, the battery expected to be ready by late 2022.
