We need to ‘power up’ in electric vehicle revolution

THERE’S a fair bit of misinformation about electric vehicles being peddled at the moment which I’d like to clear up.

The worldwide transition to electric vehicles is happening but unfortunately Australia is way behind in managing this transition to cleaner energy and cleaner air under the failed policies of the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments.

Despite this, Queensland is leading the charge. We launched Australia’s first EV strategy and built the world’s longest EV superhighway in one state which is determining car maker policy for the entire country.

We’ve supported the company that manufactures the world’s fastest electric vehicle superchargers – made here in southeast Queensland. Tritium is a home-grown success story with 250 workers and now exports to 26 countries. Their superchargers only need eight minutes to charge up.

The electric vehicle revolution is happening around the world and many western countries are streets ahead of Australia.

More than 50 per cent of new car sales in Norway are electric vehicles and their electricity grid is working just fine.

With the highest rate of solar PV on rooftops of anywhere in the world, Australia is perfectly placed to charge their electric vehicles with solar power PV and increasingly 24 hours a day with battery storage.

The cost of electric vehicles is also falling. They cost a third less to power and service and their price will keep coming down as more models are introduced on to the market in the $40,000 price bracket.

It’s a fact, major car manufacturers around the world have announced the phasing out of the traditional combustion engine in favour of hybrids and electric vehicles. It is time we had a Federal Government that understands the changing technology and need for action on climate change, which we’ve lacked these last six years. MARK BAILEY, QUEENSLAND TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS MINISTER