Rachel Williamson, Author at The Driven

Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.

Electric Work Vehicles

Queensland LNP axes zero-emission vehicle target for government car fleet

The Tesla reaches outback Queensland. Image: Mark Tipping

The Queensland government is axing a zero-emissions target for parts of the state fleet and moving to a tailpipe emissions standard for all vehicles used by public servants.

2 min

Batteries

Adelaide council votes to approve Tesla factory, despite heavily redacted opposition

The Marion council is going ahead with its plan to sell a contaminated piece of land to a developer, which wants to build bespoke Tesla battery recycling factory.

3 min

Batteries

“Trees not Teslas:” Elon Musk hate inspires mass objections to Adelaide battery factory

Hatred for Elon Musk's politics and despair over the loss of green space is behind an avalanche of rejections to a proposal to redevelop a contaminated Adelaide site for a Tesla battery recycling factory.

7 min

Charging

The EV kerbside charger showdown: Why this fight is coming to your street

A network wants to roll out a 100 kerbside EV chargers mounted on power poles. Charger companies hate the idea. So what's behind this fight between the private sector and a regulated monopoly? We find out.

4 min

Charging

EV lobby demands financial penalties as broken public chargers fail drivers

Australia needs to get serious about charger maintenance with 13 pct of the country's installations currently out of action.

3 min

Charging

Ampol dumps retail electricity businesses to focus on EV charging

Ampol has sold its New Zealand and Australian electricity retail businesses so it can focus more deeply on EV charging infrastructure.

RedEarth DC based V2G charger connected to Ford F-150 Lightning. Image: Tim Eden

3 min

Charging

These are the vehicle-to-grid chargers that will be available in Australia in 2025

There are five V2G-enabled chargers that are aiming at the Australian market in 2025. More will come, but the wait continues for EV makers to commit to the technology.

The new Cluden EV charging site outside Townville, Queensland. Supplied

4 min

Charging

Council votes again to dump public EV fast charging station – then changes its mind

Corrected: A Queensland council voted - again - to end eight years of work to install a public EV charger. Then changed its mind.

5 min

Charging

AC or DC? The charger tech choice that may dictate what your V2G future looks like

The future of electric vehicles might one day be a car with its own onboard charger and a built-in electricity supply deal – almost like a phone contract that offers both device and network.

3 min

Electric Cars

“The transition needs to happen quickly:” The Australian bank financing only EVs

One Australian bank is offering car finance only to new EVs - or demonstration ICE vehicles - as it tries to play its role in accelerating the transition to electric.

Rachel Williamson