The Palaszczuk Government has just released our first ever Zero Emissions Vehicles strategy which puts our state in pole position to becoming a renewables superpower. But what does it mean for our local community?
Transport is one of the highest emissions-emitting industries. Heavy transport is a big part of this, but we also need ways to make it easier for families to reduce the emissions from our family car.
That’s where our Zero Emissions Vehicles strategy comes in. The strategy builds on our 2018 QFleet Electric Vehicle Strategy, which is supercharging our government fleet to become electric. Going electric with our government fleet will save million in fuel costs for taxpayers. And with international conflict pushing prices to the levels we’ve seen recently, that’s a considerable saving.
But even more significantly, when they have done their service with frontline workers – the nurses, community carers and educators working in our community – these QFleet vehicles will be available for Queenslanders to buy. That means thousands of well maintained, affordable to run, often low-kilometre second hand electric vehicles for sale to mums and dads every year.
We’ve doubled the number of EVs in our fleet year on year since 2018, and we’re on track to reach our target of 288 in 2022. Next year, the target will be more than 500, and doubling to more than 1,000 in 2024. Almost all these vehicles will be released for sale to the public in the coming years – in fact the first secondhand QFleet vehicles have just started hitting the market.
Local businesses will also capitalise on increased uptake of EVs. Increasing local demand for EVs is a clear signal to EV manufacturers: bring your best models to Queensland and make them affordable, because people want to buy them. The effect will flow on to grow local businesses here in our community, like Springwood MG who sells a terrific and affordable electric range and is a big supporter of our local sports clubs.
Running an EV is much kinder on our hip pocket, too. Instead of paying more than $2 a litre for petrol and diesel, EVs and our growing investment in renewables means Queenslanders will be able to fill their tanks with clean, Queensland-owned power at much lower cost. It costs around 2 cents a kilometre to run an EV. Compare that with 15 cents or more for a petrol fuelled vehicle. With an EV, you’re not held hostage to fuel prices set overseas by big oil companies: the price of fueling your car will reflect the price it costs to generate that energy here in Queensland.
Locally produced batteries are also critical to getting the most out of our state’s renewable energy – and we are growing demand to drive battery manufacturing right here in Queensland. That means more highly-skilled local manufacturing jobs for Queenslanders, and it offers opportunities for local businesses to expand into international markets. We know it can be done – Brisbane-based charger maker Tritium is taking on the world with their technology. They’re now the world’s second largest fast charging company, selling more than 6,700 chargers to 41 countries.
Putting more EVs on the road is just one part of the strategy to achieve Queensland’s emissions reductions targets.
We are working now on building rules that would transform the family EV in to the family battery. You will be able to plug into solar at work, or in major carparks, charge up your car when the sun is shining, and then put electricity back into our homes when the sun has set or the wind isn’t blowing.
Our ZEV strategy is about reducing emissions and increasing our use of renewable energy in Queensland, driving us toward net zero emissions by 2050. But most of all, it’s about easing the cost of living into the future with reliable, affordable transport options for Logan families.
