Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in New South Wales will soon benefit from hundreds of additional battery charging options, as part of a new program aimed at expanding the number of curbside power facilities. The government's initiative is designed to encourage more drivers to transition to electric vehicles, supporting the state in meeting its EV adoption targets. This move is expected to enhance accessibility and convenience for EV owners, promoting a shift towards more sustainable transportation.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 They call it range anxiety, the fear of running out of battery.
00:07 Most EV owners experience it, even cabinet ministers.
00:11 Can I charge my car?
00:13 Is it going to be easy?
00:15 It could soon get easier with 671 new kerbside charging points being jointly funded by the
00:21 state government and the private sector.
00:23 They'll be rolled out across Sydney and Newcastle in the next 12 months.
00:28 Electric chargers are particularly important for people who can't charge at home, people
00:31 who live in terraces, apartments like the ones around us, or people renting and who
00:35 can't install an electric vehicle charger in their homes.
00:38 The kerbside charging is just one piece of a $200 million program that also includes
00:43 new charging points at regional destinations and in the car parks of apartment buildings.
00:50 In 2022, EVs accounted for just 4% of vehicle sales in the state, but that's now closer
00:56 to 10%.
00:57 There's still a long road ahead to reach the target of 50% by 2030, but the government's
01:02 confident it'll make it.
01:04 Of much greater concern is the state's legislated 2030 emissions reduction target, which according
01:10 to government forecasts is in danger.
01:14 After extending the life of Australia's biggest coal-fired power station by another
01:17 two years, the government's been making a concerted effort to promote its greener side
01:22 - home batteries on Friday, vehicle chargers today, along with some EV evangelism from
01:29 the Environment Minister.
01:30 I just tell them they should drive my car because it's really great to drive and that
01:34 they'll enjoy it and they'll save a lot of money.
01:37 There's still millions more drivers to convert to the cause.
01:40 "