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Victorian EV trial uncovers corporate resistance
Spokesman draws parallels with mobile phone technology, but business remains unconvincedAustralians aren't 'early adopters', according to Tom Garrish, Manager of the Victorian Electric Vehicle Trial, and he finds it incongruous to suggest we are, given our faltering interest in electric vehicles.
"The Australian market is a bit behind," he said, comparing us with the strides made by electric vehicles in other markets. "We are traditionally more of a fast follower."
Mr Garrish, speaking at last month's Cars of the Future conference, cited the mobile phone market as analogous to electric vehicles.
Back in 1987, Telecom Australia introduced the 1G mobile phone network to the local market. In the years since, prices of phones have come down considerably from the original asking price of $11,000, and talk time is much better than just one hour.
As Garrish pointed out however, there have been many stumbles and hurdles to overcome along the way, among them the hundred-plus mergers and acquisitions of mobile phone carriers between 1995 and 2000, or the 2001 collapse of One.Tel and AAPT cancelling its network plan.
Yet no one would suggest that mobile phones are conceptually an abject failure in this market.
Electric vehicles, on the other hand, are currently facing a barrage of criticism from different quarters. The recent withdrawal from the local market by Better Place has not helped. But Garrish believes that no one can look into the future 10 to 12 years from now, when technology advances and social changes may be the redemption of EVs in Australia.
For the moment, however, EVs face some obstacles on the way to broader community acceptance, starting with commercial fleets. In the trial the Victorian government is running, due to end around the middle of next year, results are beginning to show a greater tolerance for EVs from private owners and operators. Corporate fleets currently looking at EVs in a hard-headed way just can't make the sums add up.
In his presentation, Garrish offered some solutions for fleets struck by the high purchase price, diminished range and questionable ecological benefits. Firstly, he suggested, fleets could team up in 'purchasing coalitions' to buy vehicles in greater numbers and reap the benefits of larger-scale buying power.
The short range of EVs might be overcome by public recharging infrastructure and on-site quick charging (with 32-Amp outlets). And the environmental concerns that surround EV manufacturing could be offset by running the vehicles on renewable energy.
These and other solutions proposed by Garrish are available in the here and now. He's not asking prospective EV buyers to look over the horizon to see what the future will bring, but there seems little doubt that improving battery technology and lowering the costs of manufacturing would go a long way toward winning over the general public.
Given the scope of the EV trial and its conclusion in less than 18 months, it's no surprise that Garrish didn't offer any insights concerning technological advancements over the next decade.
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Written byKen Gratton
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