Rising insurance premiums are one of the challenges faced by drivers who want to switch from a conventional car to an electric vehicle, according to research.
As costs rise, insurers are “opting for write-offs rather than repairs” due to limited access to spare parts and a shortage of mechanics, Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Christopher said in Canberra on Friday. Jones.
Another hurdle was the ban on charging electric vehicles in apartment car parks, and the association argued for a “right to charge” for all.
Stalling the development of the second-hand market, many electric vehicles (EVs) went up for auction because the lack of battery status certification discouraged potential buyers, the first public hearing of a parliamentary inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles was heard.
Stuart Charity, chief executive of the Australian Automotive Parts Association, said governments were neglecting service and repairs as they focused on the price and supply of new vehicles.
Experts say there are several barriers to the electric vehicle market, including a lack of spare parts.
He said 14 percent of workshops were ready for electric vehicles and almost a quarter (24 percent) planned to be ready within the next 12 months.
But cost and a lack of training – and trainers – were creating a barrier to EV maintenance, particularly in regional and rural areas, he said.
“To achieve continued acceptance by the Australian public… the government needs to ensure the infrastructure is in place and that people who buy electric vehicles have a good experience and that their first electric vehicle is not their last,” he said.
Samuel Marks, head of policy at the National Trucking Association, said there was no silver bullet for truck operators but electricity would play an important role in decarbonising freight transport.
However, cost barriers were significant, as the cost of operating electric trucks was two to three times higher and charging infrastructure was largely non-existent, he said.
The ban on charging electric vehicles in apartment car parks was another obstacle, and the association advocated for a “right to charge” for everyone.
Marks said the government should consider financial assistance to support adoption, include hydrogen fuel cell trucks in any subsidies and have a national strategy for refueling infrastructure.
“There’s a big chicken and egg problem… people don’t want to provide the charging infrastructure because there are no trucks on the roads and people don’t want to buy the trucks because they can’t charge,” he said. .
As with cars and trucks, there was also a broader need for qualified mechanics to service future trucks, particularly in regional areas.
He said hydrogen was important, despite lower efficiency compared to electric trucks, because hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were capable of carrying more weight and potentially had a longer range.
The challenge with hydrogen had been the cost of producing the fuel, making it difficult to achieve parity with electricity, although subsidies announced in the last budget would help, he said.
Legal barriers to larger, lower-emission trucks being on the road were also a concern, with differences emerging in several states.
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