Kim Waters
GEELONG’S council has lost out in an attempt to secure Australia’s first electric car trial.
Minister for Roads Tim Pallas announced this week that Victoria had joined an “influential group” of international businesses and governments, known as EV20, to “speed up” the production and use of electric vehicles.
The announcement coincides with a $5 million Victorian electric vehicle trial, which will begin in a few weeks.
The government decision has shut out Geelong industry from exclusive use of the technology.
Mr Pallas said 180 Victorian households will receive an electric vehicle for three months as part of the Melbourne-based trial.
But families from “regional areas like Geelong” would take part in the trial State Government, he said.
“Our electric vehicle trial is ground-breaking,” Mr Pallas said.
“The Government’s $5 million trial of electric vehicles will play a big part in getting Victoria ready for their future roll out, while also providing real world understanding of how an electric vehicle market will work, both here and internationally.”
The Independent reported in July that Geelong’s council was “currently investigating” potential for a memorandum of understanding with international firm Better Place Electric Vehicles.
A report revealing the electric car bid was included in an agenda item recommending a trip to Japan for councillor John Doull to attend a biodiversity conference in Tokyo next month.
Cr Mitchell said council had to act quickly to secure the Better Place trial.
“There are other councils out there who are interested in this,” he said.
Cr Doull said Better Place was also trialling a prototype electric postal delivery vehicle and electric taxis, which had created “considerable” worldwide interest.
He hoped to discuss the possibility of a trial of the prototypes in Geelong.