The high level of disinformation and misinformation remain consistent barriers to the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia, but one local council was astonished at the level pushback from its employees when it introduced EVs into its fleet for the first time.
The Wyndham City Council – one of a group of seven in the local region looking to go electric – says council staff were initially fearful of “self-igniting EVs” and toxic fumes, which made them hesitant to drive the electric vehicles that the council had bought.
“Concerns about fire risks – such as battery fires and charger faults – are common among council staff, including those supportive of the EV transition,” the council writes in a Knowledge Sharing report that was a condition of its funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
“These concerns, often amplified by misinformation, can lead to hesitancy from operational teams, reduced uptake among users, and financial caution from managers.”
It said it even occurred among staff who were otherwise generally supportive of a transition to EVs.
“Key concerns include self-igniting EVs, faulty chargers or electrical systems, thermal runaway of batteries, emergency response, toxic fumes, and the potential for fire to spread to nearby assets,” the report explained.
“While these concerns are valid and require appropriate risk mitigation, their likelihood is often exaggerated due to misinformation and disinformation.”
As a result of these concerns, there was reduced support from internal council teams due to the perceived risk of EV fires to council property and staff safety, and there was low uptake of EVs among council staff who were hesitant to drive EVs due to concerns around their safety.
Wyndham City Council turned to information developed by EV Fire Safe, a private company researching EV battery fires and emergency response to help address the concerns, and to provide advice on safe charger placement and management, and information regarding emergency response planning and raising general awareness.
“The EV transition represents a significant shift for councils, and many involved are navigating unfamiliar territory, full of misinformation – particularly around fire risk,” the report says.
“Early engagement, clear roles and responsibilities, and visible executive sponsorship are essential to build trust, foster shared ownership, and ensure the transition is seen as a strategic priority rather than a niche initiative driven by Sustainability teams.”
Wyndham is working with sis other councils under the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA) partnership to transition their fleet to zero emission vehicles.
The project includes both light and heavy battery EVs and the installation of charging infrastructure at municipal depots and offices (and supporting electrical and civil works), and is designed to showcase charging solutions for council fleets, explore diverse council EV use cases, and implement fleet transition plans.
The project commenced in July 2024 and is expected to finish by July 2027.
The report also highlighted the complex logistical challenges of deploying EV infrastructure at council sites, resulting in the need for carefully staged and coordinated installation works as well as early stakeholder engagement, phased delivery, and minimal disruption and operational impacts through various construction techniques.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.