Ford ‘hope’ in green car plan

Kim Waters
INTRODUCING electric cars in Geelong could “secure” the future of the city’s Ford factory, according to a Greens candidate.
Gavin Brown said the Greens had a focus on Ford as part of its policy for a $75 million funding injection into the development of green cars in Australia.
“The Labor Government and opposition may differ on how to keep local companies like Ford in business, yet the truth is that only the Greens plan to invest in electric cars will enable a truly secure future for Ford,” Mr Brown said.
“The Greens focus on assisting Ford is part of their overall plan to assist local companies to adjust to a changing economy.”
The Independent reported last week that Geelong council officers were “currently investigating” potential for an electric car trial with international car firm Better Place Electric Vehicles.
The trial would incude a network of recharging stations across the city.
Mr Brown said Geelong manufacturing industries like Ford should take advantage of “the opportunities on the horizon”.
“The world is moving to electric cars and Australia will eventually make this step,” he said.
“The Government needs to be assisting companies like Ford to prepare to take part in this emerging market.
“This will provide a massive opportunity for Geelong to be a major provider of clean cars for Australia.”
Mr Brown promised to push for increased funding for electric vehicle development if he scored a shock win in the safe Labor seat of Corio against incumbent Richard Marles.
“We’re proposing that if we get into power we’ll take the opportunity to provide more funding for companies like Ford to start producing electric cars,” he said.
“The environment is changing and fuel will get more and more expensive.
“This would enable us to keep travelling in a more sustainable way and would help our industry in Geelong get on the front-foot and be leaders in the new economy.”
The Greens’ funding announcement coincided with the arrival of the first fully-electric vehicle in Australia.
Mitsubishi Motors released its i-MiEV in Japan last year before introducing the car onto Melbourne roads for its first test run this week.
A Mitsubishi Motors spokesperson said the vehicle was one of the world’s “first truly viable zero drive-time emission city commuter cars in volume production”.