“At present there are 100 or less electric vehicles in Perth. In the next two decades we expect millions of electric cars to have a significant impact on the electricity grid.”
Finding a balance between power generation and environmental sustainability remains a challenge for developers, with long-term outcomes as yet unknown. At present, a recharge will enable a Mitsubishi i-MiEV to travel about 110 km and a converted Ford Focus 130 km. The network of charging stations is a significant leap forward, with Osborne Park residents the beneficiaries.
Although the car industry is ploughing money into electric cars, studies suggest the public remains slow on the uptake. A recent United States survey collated by printing services on behalf of Pike Research shows a decline in consumer interest in plug-in electric vehicles during the past two years. Price remains the biggest concern for buyers, with electric and hybrid cars costing double that of regular gasoline engine models. Consumers are inclined to wait for electric technology to improve, along with cost and mileage on a full charge, which is still prohibitive for longer journeys.
Hybrid cars remain a niche market in Australia, with new models the Renault Fluence ZE, and Holden Volt among the new entrants this year. They look, feel, and drive like their gasoline-guzzling cousins and soon they will be coming to a street corner near you.