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volved in the group, while some of the computers which allows for the manu-
energy providers included in the mem- facturers to keep improving things and
bership are AGL, Synergy and Origin. updating software to make your vehicle
While the Council boasts an impres- better. That is a huge shift from where
sive band of companies looking to we were where things get worse and the
bring Australia up to speed with electric next model comes out and you hate the
transportation for a more sustainable fact that you bought the last one.”
future, Jafari said the country trailed
other countries in the uptake of EVs and – Mark Andrews
urged greater government intervention Behyad Jafari
to help the process.
“We’re in a fantastic spot here, but
when it comes to market uptake, a lot
more of that depends on government
policies in our transport sector and that
is an area where Australia has lagged
behind,” Jafari said.
Some countries have introduced poli-
cies outlawing internal combustion en-
gine vehicles from being on the road in
the coming decades but Australia is still
some way from implementing its own
restrictions.
However, disseminating up-to-date
information on the sector should result
in more EVs on Australian roads. Such
is the pace of technological advances in
the EV space, information is often out-
dated, leading to common misconcep-
tions about EVs.
“There are often things that are out
there that were true 3-4 years ago, as
far as range and how long batteries last.
Nowadays, all those things have dou-
bled or tripled. You can go 5-600km per
charge, batteries last over 20 years,”
Jafari said.
“It is easier to think of EVs like your
mobile phone or computer – they get
better very, very quickly. Car, truck,
bus companies are all doing things like
over-the-air updates, so you don’t have
to buy a new vehicle you just need all
the latest tech.
“It puts us in an environment where,
fascinatingly, the car is probably at its
worst the day you buy it because it is
what EVs allow for. They are more like

The conference proceedings of the 2019
Australian Nickel Conference

is available

$60 (inc.GST)
15 October 2019
Perth, Western Australia Phone (+61) 8 9321 0355 or email christine@paydirt.com.au

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2020 Page 35