Opinion: Australia needs charging infrastructure not EV subsidies

The recent announcement of a fuel excise cut by the federal government has brought out the inevitable calls for more support for Electric Vehicles. I agree in principle, cutting excise for 6 months at an expected cost of $2-3 billion is a short term fix for a long term issue.

As expected, most of the calls for EV support are for an EV subsidy on the purchase price of a new vehicle, similar to subsidies being offered by a number of Australian state governments. Instead of $3 billion spent on lowering fuel prices how about $3 billion worth of EV subsidies, is the general opinion.

At this point in time and for the foreseeable future I totally disagree with any further financial support during the purchase of an EV. An EV subsidy is intended to boost sales of a developing market, which is no longer the case in Australia because demand for EVs is far higher than supply and will likely stay this way until EVs are dominating sales figures.

Offering an incentive to purchase a product in high demand is unwise and a waste of the nation’s finances. Any financial support needs to be in preparation for a rapid transition to electrification.

Not only does Australia need quality public charging facilities it needs equipment that can make best use of the ever-increasing renewable energy production from both homes and commercial solar and wind farms, a better use of $3 billion dollars would be in 2 ways:

Firstly, by funding smart AC charging in the car parks of shopping centres, workplaces, recreation facilities and other venues.

Around $1.5 billion dollars would pay the full cost of up to 500,000 charge points that provide far more opportunity for EV charging during the day when solar production is abundant.

Secondly, the remaining $1.5 billion could be allocated to fast DC charging in areas where they’re needed most, that being the roads and highways that connect up the small and larger population areas of Australia.

Some $1.5 billion spent wisely could provide up to 10,000 fast DC charge points, far more if used as an incentive for private industry to lead the way.

The Electric Vehicle transition needs a long term plan not a sugar hit.

Rob Dean is a long term electric vehicle owner from Western Australia, he has no financial interest in charging infrastructure. He has charged his EV at a wide variety of locations across Australia.