Participants
The following 11 commercial and government trial participants will operate a converted Ford Focus as part of their fleet:
The City of Swan is pleased to be associated with the Electric Vehicle Trial Program. It will provide valuable insight into the infrastructure and logistical requirements as well as highlighting the future benefits of Electric Vehicles. The EV program forms part of the City’s strong commitment to supporting environmental improvement and long term environmental sustainability for our community. The City of Swan is the largest local authority in Metropolitan Perth, and has a wide variety of terrain, population density and driving conditions. It presents a unique opportunity to research the very limits of electric vehicles in terms of range and performance.
Water Corporation is a significant fleet operator in Western Australia and as such has always had a fleet policy that encourages efficiency and lower emissions. Water Corporation has used its fleet as a test centre for new fleet technologies in the past and welcomes the chance to show leadership in the promising technology of electric vehicles.
With a wide reaching business and large commercial fleet, Telstra is continuously looking at actions that can reduce it’s environmental impact. The step towards electric vehicles could provide an additional opportunity to make further improvements and Telstra are keen to explore and support the trial for this purpose.
The recharging and services required by electric vehicles on the main road network are of particular interest to Main Roads WA. The trial will allow an opportunity to reflect on the requirements that may need to be planned for in the future. Participating in the trial is an important Sustainability initiative for Main Roads WA, as they aim to look for innovative solutions at reducing emissions from their own vehicle fleet.
Active across residential, commercial and industrial sectors, LandCorp supports regional growth, urban revitalisation and strategic infrastructure development in Western Australia. A key focus is the development of communities around transport and amenity at destinations like Cockburn Central and Mandurah. LandCorp is pleased to be involved in this trial as a demonstration of its commitment towards a more sustainable future for all West Australians.
The Department of Transport works to provide safe, accessible, sustainable and efficient transport services that promote economic prosperity and enhance the lifestyle of all Western Australians. The department’s Transport Energy team, which is focussed on promoting the use of low emission and energy efficient vehicles, has worked closely with the trial organisers in developing the trial concept. The department expects the trial to provide valuable information to assist in planning for the more widespread use of electric vehicles within Western Australia over the longer term.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has the lead responsibility for protecting and conserving the State’s environment on behalf of the people of Western Australia. One of the Department’s key objectives is to support the development and implementation of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Environment and Conservation is supportive of initiatives such as this trial of converted electric vehicles to keep Western Australia at the forefront of developments in the field of alternative transport options and to develop the capability within Western Australia to pursue favourable low emission transport options in the future.”
The West Australian is an important media outlet in WA as well as a key publisher of automobile news and information to the wider community. The West Australian will play a key role in shaping public perceptions of sustainable transport options including electric vehicles. The West Australian looks forward to reporting the experiences of the trial as well as finding direct ways to reduce further the environmental impact of our business.
Through the City of Perth‘s strategic planning process, there emerged a community expectation that the Capital City should lead in environmental and climate solutions. One aspect of this was access and mobility. A number of programs are already in place in the City’s parking portfolio, including energy reduction initiatives, carbon sequestration in trees and sustainable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.
The City of Perth is the first local authority in Australia to commit to a climate change initiative in the form of carbon sequestration by planting and maintaining 85,000 trees for a 40-year production life and funded from fees paid by parking customers. Some 85,000 trees were planted in 2009 and maintained on a property in Kojonup. They will entrap an estimated 15,600 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) at maturity. Further funding has been allocated to continue the Carbon Off-set Tree Planting Program and 85,000 suitable trees are to be planted to absorb the same amount of CO2 emissions in Stage 2 as with the previous stage.
In addition, City of Perth Parking’s newest facility, the Elder Street Car Park, is equipped with many state of the art power saving and environmentally friendly features, some of which include rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation with automatic CO2 monitoring, smart systems lighting, solar harvesting and electric vehicle charging facilities.
The opportunity to be involved in the WA EVT has been taken up with enthusiasm by the City of Perth and the City looks forward to being an active participant in the ongoing development of alternative mobility with minimal environmental consequences.
The Royal Automobile Club is a member based organisation focused on keeping Western Australians moving freely, safely and sustainably. The RAC has been a voice for motorists for more than 100 years and participating in the electric vehicle trial will enable us to understand the new motoring technologies and plan for the future needs of Western Australia.
The RAC supports the introduction of alternative vehicle technologies, including electric vehicles, as a way of reducing the impact of the car on the environment and reducing motorists’ dependence on increasingly expensive fuels made from crude oil.
Electric vehicles present a number of opportunities for the motoring industry and by operating an electric vehicle and a charging station the RAC will be able to assess the impact the new technology will have on our members who choose electric vehicles.
By remaining at the forefront of vehicle technology, the RAC is well placed to provide relevant and expert motoring products and services that Western Australians have come to expect from the RAC for more than 100 years.
See more information on the City of Mandurah website.
