Byron Eco Park: e-Mobility Seminars

AUSTRALIA’S PALTRY ELECTRIC CAR UPTAKE WILL COST HEALTH, JOBS AND ENVIRONMENT 

Electro mobility (or e-mobility) represents the concept of using electric powertrain technologies, in-vehicle information, and communication technologies and connected infrastructures to enable the electric propulsion of vehicles and fleets.  E-mobility concepts are motivated by the need to address corporate fuel efficiency and lower emission targets, as well as market demands for lower operational costs.

In Europe, with growing awareness of climate change has lead to a push to meet reduced emmission targets and lower pollution. The SUV boom has added pressure on the companies to shift to electric mobility, because it forces them to push clean alternatives in order to lower average fleet emissions. Stringent new EU emission limits, huge investments in electrification and autonomous driving, cooling global demand have caused great disruption to the car making industries as the pain of this vital transition sets in.

German carmakers are particularly affected by the new EU emission rules because of their strong position in the premium segment. Heavy luxury cars have comparatively high emissions if powered by a conventional engine – a problem amplified by the continuing trend towards SUVs.

Lowering CO2 emissions in transport has become a focus of Germany's landmark energy transition. The country has failed to lower CO2 emissions in the sector over the last 30 years, as progress from more efficient engines has been eaten up by rising car numbers and the popularity of heavy SUVs. While Germany's total CO2 emissions decreased significantly in 2019, transport emissions have risen yet again. The UK, France, Norway and Sweden have already committed to phasing out conventional cars by the end of the 2030s.

Australia is lagging way behind in making the transition to electric powered or hybrid vehicles. Having already lost our car making industry we are in a position of having to import the new technology and there has been slow take-up. But Australia is no less obliged to face this challenge than any other country with climate change showing it's terrible face in the bushfire catastophe of 2019-2020. Australia has very large distances between towns and cities compared to Europe adding further challenges of building a viable recharging network and facing up to the range issue.

Despite fewer cars selling around the world last year, electric cars have kept rolling out of showrooms. More than 2 million electric cars were sold in 2018, with China alone accounting for 1.26 million sales.

But while the rest of the world has been transitioning to the new technology, in 2017 Australians bought just 2,284 vehicles, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. 

Each year Australian cars collectively produce roughly the same emissions as Queensland’s entire coal and gas-fired electricity supply, making decarbonising Australia’s vehicle fleet a must to combat climate change.

Governments elsewhere have generally begun to actively address the issue.

Here at Byron Eco Park, we see this challenge as an important one to meet and are contributing to 'the greening of Australia' by holding educational seminars in e-mobility to focus awareness on the need for an energy transition in our large continent, and helping interested people understand the options of new technologies, to help build momentum towards this vital part of our response to global warming.

If you are interested in attending one of our e-Mobility seminars, please email us at byronecopark1@gmail using the subject header "e-Mobility".

Read about the Comco Icarus Electric Aeroplane here.