This month, the ACT reached a milestone of more than 5,000 zero emissions vehicles (ZEV) registered in the Territory: the highest number of ZEVs per capita in Australia, Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.
“The number has doubled since this time last year, and now one in five newly registered vehicles is a ZEV,” Mr Rattenbury said. (Read more: ‘Electric vehicles increase by a third in ACT in three months’, 22 April.)
“This demonstrates not only that Canberrans care for our environment and want to do their part to reduce emissions, but also that they have discovered the many benefits that come from owning a ZEV.”
Darryl Bourke, branch secretary of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) ACT, was pleased to see Canberrans enthusiastically embrace electric vehicles.
“Before long, most people will know someone with an EV, and this will continue to normalise zero emissions vehicles,” Mr Bourke said.
The ACT Government has launched a free new cost-comparison web tool to help Canberrans better understand ZEVs’ running costs, and make more informed decisions on whether to purchase a ZEV when looking for their next vehicle, Mr Rattenbury said.
“The new tool takes about five minutes to use, and allows you to see at a glance the total cost of ownership of any car model available in Australia over a five-year period. It also allows you to compare these costs to other models available on the market.
“While ZEVs are still typically priced at a premium compared to petrol or diesel alternatives, the reduced operational costs and greater resale value of ZEVs means that they can cost you less in the long run.
“ZEVs can be cheaper for Canberrans to run as they have far fewer maintenance costs. Canberrans can save money on refuelling costs, especially if they are able to charge with energy from their home solar panels.”
The tool also provides information on driving range, annual fuel or energy costs, and financial incentives if you purchase a ZEV in the ACT.
“New electric vehicle models can go much further than people think,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The average electric vehicle driving range of new models [is] now between 300 and 600km. The average Canberran travels only 40km per day, so this is more than adequate to meet the needs of many ACT drivers.
“This tool is another step in the ACT Government’s people-first approach to climate action,” he said.
Evenergi, the software designer, was proud to partner with the ACT Government and support their shift to zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading software for EV fleets, CEO Daniel Hilson said.
“We commend the ACT Government for their leadership in the clean energy transition, and look forward to accelerating the decarbonisation of transport together,” Mr Hilson said.
To try out the tool, visit energy.act.gov.au/owning-a-zero-emissions-vehicle/
