Partnership to drive Aus EV uptake

A new public participation program by Evenergi hopes to increase the number of electric vehicles on Australian roads and boost solar and storage installations in homes.

The program is expected to show how electric cars can work together with rooftop solar and battery storage to reduce the load on the grid and will provide energy networks with insights into the impact of electric cars on the grid.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), on behalf of the Australian Government, has provided $172,215 in funding to Evenergi’s Charge Together campaign.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the project would help better understand why Australians had not embraced electric cars and what the barriers to uptake were, and encourage further investment. The project would also help to deliver on ARENA’s investment priority of improving Australia’s energy productivity.

“Understanding the potential impacts of EVs on both home energy use and the electricity network will provide valuable knowledge on how EVs can maximise the use of local generation while integrating into a more flexible renewable distribution grid of the future,” Frischknecht said.

The program involves partnerships with South Australian Power Networks, Adelaide Council, the SA Government and the Australian Electric Vehicle Association. Program participants will be eligible to win prizes and will be offered rewards from Renault, Mitsubishi, AGL, Hyundai, Nissan and other industry leaders.

Participants will receive a home and car monitoring system that will emulate the cost and logistics of owning, as well as charging and maintaining an electric car. The campaign will involve a social media and marketing campaign to identify prospective EV buyers and undertake consumer research to help understand the barriers for uptake.

With the data collected, Evenergi will build an online tool for consumers to model the influence of rooftop solar, home batteries and electricity tariffs on a decision to buy EVs.

Evenergi’s consumer research will inform a report for government and industry that will identify barriers and potential infrastructure hotspots, and lay the groundwork for EV charging stations as uptake increases.

After the program was successfully trialled in the UK, the $349,573 program will be rolled out initially in South Australia. If successful, it could be expanded into other states.

Evenergi founder and CEO Daniel Hilson said Evenergi is committed to accelerating electric vehicle adoption in Australia. “Our experience in the UK demonstrated that regional programs are a key part of putting in place the incentives and infrastructure required to support this,” he said.

“With the support of ARENA and the project partners, this program will encourage more Australians to consider electric cars and will help government and industry overcome the barriers to uptake.”

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