Reducing the price of electric vehicles and addressing regional charging infrastructure are key to giving regional drivers more choice when it comes to purchasing an electric vehicle, according to the NRMA-sponsored Mood of the Bush report.
The SEC Newgate/NRMA research of over 1,800 people has been released in the lead-up to the annual Bush Summit held in Griffith and has found that the biggest barriers for drivers when buying an electric vehicle were:
- The cost of purchase (70%)
- Lack of charging stations (41%); and
- Distance between charging stations (35%)
The research found 50 per cent were very or somewhat likely to purchase a hybrid vehicle in the next five years while over one-third (36%) would purchase an electric vehicle. Key steps that would increase comfort in transitioning to an electric vehicle included:
- More charging stations (45%)
- Having more vehicles available to purchase in Australia (38%); and
- Knowledge of charging costs (36%)
Carly Irving has commenced in her role as CEO of NRMA’s Energy and Infrastructure Division and addressed the 2022 Bush Summit. Her role will include the roll-out of NRMA fast charging infrastructure across Australia with a continued focus on regional NSW.
Ms Irving said the price of electric vehicles would continue to fall in the coming years, however a critical challenge remained building the required charging infrastructure to connect the bush.
“Regional communities should not be the last to get the charging infrastructure they need – in fact the NRMA has been heavily focused on making sure they come first,” Ms Irving said.
“We know from global trends that the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia will increase in the coming years and we need to ensure regional NSW is connected so that people have confidence that if they do buy an electric vehicle they can be supported along their journey.
“The NRMA started building its regional fast-charging network four years ago and that work continues while the organisation has also partnered with the Australian Government to build a nation-wide fast charging network across the National Highway.
“This will improve the confidence of drivers enabling them to charge their EV across Australia and help them on their journey whether it’s for work, home or while on holidays.
“Concerns around too few charging stations continue to be raised by consumers, and we know for Australians living in regional areas who need to travel greater distances, this concern presents an even bigger barrier than their metropolitan counterparts. More charging stations within shorter distances also need to be reliable.
“Addressing these challenges is why the NRMA has focussed on investing in fit for purpose charging infrastructure in regional communities to ensure no region is left behind as more Australians make the switch.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about EV’s is range anxiety, with a quarter of Australians unsure how far EVs can travel on a single charge with only 38% of Australians knowing modern EV’s have a range of 300km or more.
