EV

AGL has become the first Australian company to join EV100, a global initiative to make electric vehicles the norm by 2030. AGL’s commitment will see it transition its 400-strong fleet of corporate cars transition to EVs, one of the few proactive shifts the energy giant is making to meet its updated climate statement.

Every new regional EV charging station is a trailblazer. Last week, Evie Networks launched the first of three ultra-fast charging opportunities it has planned for Tasmania. Company CEO Chris Mills talked to pv magazine about the many factors the company considers in situating its infrastructure, to enhance the freedom of EV drivers to travel where they like.

Western Australia’s Recovery Plan continues to grow greenery as more renewable aspects of the state’s stimulus package come to light, specifically solar light that is. The state government has committed $22 million toward nine green hydrogen initiatives across the state, while also bringing forward its Renewable Hydrogen Strategy targets a decade and topping up the green hydrogen fund.

Since the launch of its first DC fast charger in 2014 Australian company Tritium has become a leading global supplier of EV refuelling infrastructure, with installations in more than 29 countries, a growing range of user-friendly small-footprint units and around 15% of the global market for 50kW fast chargers alone. Jane Hunter is proud to lead this poster child for Australia’s new advanced-manufacturing-led prosperity.

In the absence of a national carbon-emissions target and a long-awaited EV policy, Origin and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (on behalf of the Australian Government) are forging ahead with research that will show how coordinated smart-charging of an eventual surge of EV battery storage will benefit consumers and the grid.

With the disruption of Covid-19 highlighting the climatic impact of the aviation industry, a recent report from the CSIRO funded by Boeing shows that hydrogen fuel’s technological momentum could see clean hydrogen used in airports by as early as 2025, and a full transition from conventional jet fuel by 2050.

It was a series of firsts, including a profitable full year and Megapack turning a profit that factored into CEO Elon Musk explaining that he has “never been more optimistic or excited about the future of Tesla.” Austin is confirmed as the site of the next Gigafactory.

The New Zealand Government is quickly turning the antipodean rivalry over climate legislation and renewable energy integration into a veritable Bledisloe Cup. This is to say that for Australia the situation is now plain embarrassing. Today, NZ’s Climate Change Minister James Shaw announced six new projects to receive funding as part of its clean-powered public service fund.

ARENA is putting $2.4 million into a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in the ACT, which is looking to demonstrate the ability of EVs to provide grid ancillary services. The consortium of research and industry project proponents hope to show how EVs can help regulate grid function and provide a revenue stream for electric-fleet owners.

Every crisis is a crossroads, and Australia is certainly at a crossroads. This week, a host of climate, development and investment leaders are backing Beyond Zero Emission’s green scaffolded Million Jobs Plan of Covid-19 economic recovery.