EVs coming down the highway – and fast

We are all nine years away from not being able to buy an internal combustion engine car.

Global car manufacturers have declared they will stop making petrol and diesel engine cars by 2030.

Australia no longer makes cars, so we must import them all.

There are about 2,200 electric vehicles on the road in Western Australia.

A very small number, compared with the 100,000 or so vehicles sold every year in the state.

But in nine years’ time, those 100,000 or more new cars will be EVs.

In much the same way horses and carts were on the roads while the first motorised cars were being driven at the turn of the 20th Century, we will live through the petrol to EV vehicle switch over.

By 2040, fewer and fewer petrol engine cars will be around, and the current 2,000 or so petrol stations in WA would have been converted to fast electric charging stations, perhaps run off local solar power plants.

A change like this leads to opportunities but, with WA so far behind in the shift to EV cars – more than 50 per cent of new cars sold in Norway now are EVs – leaving us with a bit of catching up to do.

Future fuels

A recent announcement from the federal government’s $72 million Future Fuels Fund initiative allocated $25 million towards building 403 public fast-charging stations (fill you up in 10 minutes), with 30 being built in WA.

However, to fully cover the state we may need 10 times this number. We have only 20 fast-charging stations.

While many people will be charging their EVs from home, and may never need a charging station, those on journeys into the great blue yonder will certainly need them.

Currently, potential EV buyers may be put off due to their relatively high price (which should come down with development of battery technology, currently half the price of an average EV car).

The lack of charging stations may also be a negative.

What if I run out of power in the middle of nowhere?

In anticipation of this, startup Kaya Smart Charging Networks is launching in WA next month, bringing in technology and experience from some of the UK’s largest public and fleet-charging networks.

Over the next few years, Kaya has the goal of leading the transition to low emissions transport in Australia to become one of the largest national network operators.

“Our strength lies in the experience of the directors and partners in delivering successful charging networks in both local and international markets,” Kaya chief executive John Boyd told Business News.

“The cost of EV cars will come down, and with more stations, people will be happier buying EV cars.

“Back in 2007, hardly anyone had solar power on their roof. But the government got behind it, and now there are close to three million (rooftop systems).”

Electric Vehicle Council of Australia chief executive Behyad Jafari said he was excited about the opportunities to develop this much-needed renewable charging infrastructure.

“[Australia has] massive potential to create a local EV industry that creates local jobs and supports Australian businesses,” Mr Jafari said.

“This [funding] announcement will mean customers have even better solutions for installing charging stations in commercial and residential buildings, shopping centres, along highways, commercial car parks and other destinations where EV drivers like to dwell.”

When it’s developed, WA’s EV charging network will be one of the longest electric highways in the world, second only to Canada.

They say Rome was not built in a day. We have about nine years, and the clock is ticking.

• Charlie Gunningham is founder and principal of digital strategy advisory business Damburst