Victoria is powering towards an 'electric vehicle future' with the trial of electric cars on its streets.
Premier John Brumby has launched Victoria’s Electric Vehicle Trial, with 50 organisations and 180 households across the State to participating in the five-year trial.
About 60 vehicles will be used in the trial and they have been provided by Blade Electric Vehicles, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan and EDay Life. Public charging infrastructure will be supplied by Better Place, ECOtality and ChargePoint.
Mr Brumby said the Government was committed to making this state an electric vehicle friendly place and we understand how important cleaner, greener and innovative travel options are to Victorians.
“The Electric Vehicle Trial will create real-life conditions by testing how drivers, vehicles, plug-in charging infrastructure and the electricity network will work in everyday situations,” he said.
“This is a real-world test of how these vehicles will operate in Victoria and that means we need Victorians to use electric vehicles and report back on their experiences.
“This is an exciting opportunity for people to be part of the development of low-emission transport options as we look for new ways to cut carbon emissions and provide greener travel.”
All the vehicles in the Electric Vehicle Trial would run on AGL GreenPower, which is 100 per cent renewable energy.
“Most of the vehicles will be small passenger cars. Some electric light commercial vehicles will be used in freight fleets, while electric two-wheelers will also be tested,” Mr Brumby said.
“As part of the trial, charging points will be installed in homes of participants and in workplaces. Public quick charging points will also be set up for when an electric vehicle needs a top-up.”
Mr Pallas said the trial was about finding new ways of making electric cars more efficient and practical for Victorian families and roads.
“The vehicles will rotate between households and fleets for three months at a time, with the trial to look at their experiences and what types of charging infrastructure are needed,” he said.
“We will provide the vehicle charging point and pay for insurance, while the households will pay the cost of electricity, which will be less than you would pay for petrol.”
Applications to participate in the trial can only be made online through the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria and opened on October sixth.
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