Fast charging drives future
State electric vehicle network opens
TASMANIA’S nation-leading electric vehicle charging network will help drivers travel to almost any point in the state with the addition of 14 new chargers.
The electric charge network, developed by Electric Highway Tasmania, was officially opened in Launceston by Premier and Climate Change Minister Peter Gutwein on Thursday.
EHT managing director Clive Attwater said the opening of a statewide charging network for electric vehicles was a significant development.
“With Tasmania now being 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewable energy, we are ideally suited to benefiting from more electric vehicles in our state,” he said.
“You can drive your electric vehicle to almost any point in the state using this power and know there will be fast and ultra-rapid chargers to ensure you can finish your journey.”
Supported by state government grants, fast chargers have been installed at Burnie, Devonport, Scottsdale, St Helens, Swansea, Derwent Bridge, Queenstown, Kempton, New Norfolk, Geeveston, Hobart and Launceston.
Two ultra-rapid chargers were also added at Campbell Town and Kings Meadows.
“Any electric vehicle capable of 200 kilometres on one charge can now comfortably drive almost anywhere within the state and know that they will be able to charge their vehicle to 80 per cent in less than an hour,” Mr Attwater said.
“For those using the ultrarapid chargers, as technology improves these charge rates will increase significantly making an 80 per cent charge within a coffee break a reality.”
RACT chief executive Mark Mugnaioni said overall there were now around 70 dedicated charging sites across the state.
“These 14 [new] chargers will help to incentivise EV ownership by reducing ‘range anxiety’ issues for drivers, which is particularly important as EVs reach price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles during the mid-2020s,” he said.
THE Black Summer may have ravaged their habitat, but that has not stopped these parrots from making a comeback with flying colours.
These baby swift parrots are some of the first to be
born as part of a breeding program aimed at helping the endangered species flourish in the wild.
The birds’ foraging habitat was destroyed by bushfires last summer, but they have been given a second chance with a little help of Ravi Wasan from Feathered
Friends bird sanctuary in western Sydney.
He is managing a special program to help the critters adjust to a post-bushfire world after time in captivity.
“We’re training them to look and be more adaptable to areas that has different foods and to forage in new habitats,” Mr Wasan said.
He said swift parrots had a unique flight pattern and eating habit.
“They tend to only like a specific type of blossom and nectar,’’ he said.
Asked about new research, the Bob Brown Foundation said it has identified a new
food source for the parrot.
Mr Wasan said the findings were crucial to ensuring the protection of the endangered species.
“Any particular knowledge of any particular habitat they have been noticed in is extremely vital and critical,’’ he said.