Spread the love

Post Views: 11

Electric vehicles (EVs) may be a key element in helping decarbonise the atmosphere but getting them charged while on the road can be tricky – even infuriating.

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has come up with a novel idea: to boost regional connectivity by transforming Australia’s national caravan park network into “a fast-charge super network”.

Problems with EVs and finding charging stations are not restricted to Australia. British journalist Giles Coren wrote recently in the London Times of his holiday nightmare in southwest England, which ended when he had to abandon his EV in a lane, later deciding to get rid of it “because the electric vehicle industry is no readier to get a family home from Cornwall at Christmas time (as I was trying to do) than it is to fly us all to Jupiter. The cars are useless, the infrastructure is not there and you’re honestly better off walking.”

Strong words indeed!

Australia, with its far greater distances, offers similar challenges.

Daunting scenes witnessed in many Australian holiday towns over the summer holidays – with lengthy queues and drivers waiting for hours at the local community EV charger – are a sign of things to come, the CIAA warns.

“As we look towards a future with more EVs on the road, our holiday travel and road trips could look very different if we don’t start to act now,” it stated.

“Growing frustrations and the real threat of limited charger opportunities could significantly stifle the caravanning industry, the backbone of domestic tourism, and an industry that contributes over $27 billion per annum to Australia’s economy.”

Accordingly, the CIAA is calling on Government and the market to help it transform its national footprint of over 2600 caravan parks into a national fast charger and community generator network.

“As an industry, we see the challenges presented by the transition,” CIAA chief executive Stuart Lamont explained.

“We also want to be an active contributor to the solution – and with a truly national network of caravan parks in some of Australia’s key regional destinations and overnight transit routes we believe we can be at the forefront of the transition.

“We are looking to government to support a market readiness report to articulate and demonstrate the architecture and road map for an open market response to a fast charger network provision. We know technology also exists that parks can utilise to not only be a charger location but be a community energy collector and contributor.”

Lamont said early conversations about the technology options for a network had proved promising and the potential for caravan parks to become a major contributor was obvious.

“Unfortunately, these options require significant financial contribution and a will to be solution focused.”

In short, the CIAA is keen to work with government and industry on taking this innovative major step in Australia’s future fuels transition. It invites contact from prospective strategic partners.