GET welcomes Commonwealth investment in EV infrastructure

Leading Australian provider and installer of electric vehicle charging stations and technology GET Electric has welcomed the Morrison Government’s Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy, released today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor.

Backed by an expanded $250 million Future Fuels Investment Fund, the strategy will see the Government up its investment in technology and associated policy to support the transition away from internal combustible engine (ICE) vehicles, with a focus on public electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, heavy and long-distance vehicle technologies, commercial fleets, and household smart charging.

With Australia’s share of electric vehicles expected to increase to 1.7 million within the next decade, it is critical that state and Commonwealth governments support this proliferation with charging infrastructure in residential, commercial and other settings.

“The $178 million of new funding in the Future Fuels Investment Fund is overdue recognition by the Government that the transition to electric and other non-ICE vehicles is inevitable as the major car makers progressively signal their intent to end manufacture of ICE vehicles,” said GET Electric CEO Chris Alexander.

“Whilst this transition will happen over time, it is essential that our cities and towns gear up for the rapid uptake of EVs by installing public and private charging infrastructure to keep pace with the expected exponential growth in the EV market.

“As we are seeing around the world, public policy and the end of ICE vehicle production by as soon as 2035 by the world’s biggest carmakers, will drive the exponential growth in EVs as consumers have access to a growing range of lower cost electric vehicles. For most Australians, the next petrol or diesel car is likely to be their last,” Alexander said.

GET Electric has a wide range of smart chargers for commercial and residential use and is in active discussions with private buyers, car parks, commercial and residential developers, business and state and local governments about public and private installations to support the growing number of EVs. Recognising that electricity cannot be given away forever, GET chargers are supported by a proprietary user pays app that allows charging station providers to recover charging costs.

“The Commonwealth has rightly identified there will be opportunities for co-investment with industry to roll-out a national EV charging network and we look forward to exploring opportunities with state and Commonwealth jurisdictions,” Alexander said.

“As Australia’s EV journey accelerates it will be important for the Commonwealth to consider a nationally consistent plan to recover fuel excise receipts that will dwindle over time, as distinct from the piecemeal approach being introduced by different states and territories. GET’s app is a gamechanger in its ability to calculate and collect the equivalent of the fuel excise payable by EV drivers.”