In summary

Analysis for The Conversation by Professor of Future Urban Mobility in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Hussein Dia

Four years ago, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrisonfamously claimedelectric vehicles (EVs) would end the weekend. “It’s not going to tow your trailer. It’s not going to tow your boat. It’s not going to get you out to your favourite camping spot,” he said.

His comments drew on thepopular misconceptionEVs are underpowered relative to petrol, gas or diesel cars. Expertsrefutedthe claims, whilevideoof a Tesla towing a 130-tonne Boeing 787 circulated.

But one part of Morrison’s critique had longer resonance. Could utes ever go electric? These light utility cars are favoured byAustraliaandNew Zealand’stwo million strong tradie workforce to take materials and tools to jobs. Ute drivers are more likely to drive longer distances, making range anxiety an obstacle.

The answer is yes, though it may take longer than for cars. Only last week Melbourne company SEA Groupannounceda deal to turn thousands of conventional utes electric.

At present, new electric utes are still more expensive. But over time, their advantages will make them an easy choice.

How are electric utes different?

Electric utes will have much lower running costs from fuel to maintenance. Electricity is cheaper than petrol or diesel. And doing away with the internal combustion engine means maintenance is much cheaper and less frequent.

They have improved performance, withinstant torqueand rapid acceleration. This makes them suited for towing and driving in environments where quick manoeuvring and agility are needed.

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But what about ‘range anxiety’?

Theaverage driverin Australia covers 36 kilometres per day, or around 12,000 kilometres each year.

But averages conceal heavy users. Owners of utes and other light commercial vehicles drivealmost 40% morethan car drivers.

So, can electric utes handle the extra kilometres? In short – yes. Battery technology improves every year. The average distance an EV can drive on a single chargedoubledfrom 138km to 349km in the decade to 2021, based on US models.

Batteries will get better and cheaper, meaning range will increase. You can charge your electric ute at one of almost 5,000charging stationsaround Australia – a number which hasalmost doubledin just three years. It’s also possible toswap outdepleted batteries rather than stopping to recharge.

If there’s power available at a worksite, you can also run a power cable totop upyour ute while on the job.

Electric utes will be slower to arrive – but the bigger change is already here

This year, Australiawill have表面涂覆100000c vehicles on its roads for the first time.

After years in the doldrums, electric cars finally arrived in numbers. Last year, almost 40,000 hit the roads for the first time – doubling the total in a single year.

But there’s still a way to go. That’s just3.8%of all new car sales – well below the global average of12–14%and far behind world leader Norway, where87%销售的车辆现在电动。

Cars are comparatively easy to electrify. Utes and trucks are a harder challenge. Even though they come with major advantages, the higher sticker price will deter buyers.

This matters, because transport is now Australia’sthird-largest– and fastest growing – source of emissions, accounting forclose to 20%of the nation’s emissions.

Of these emissions, freight trucks are responsible for 23%, and light duty road vehicles – which includes utes –contribute 18%.

For years, Australia has been at the back of the pack. Our lack of emission standards for vehicles has made us adumping groundfor high-polluting cars and trucks.

Electrifying our whole fleet of vehicles – coupled with clean energy to power them – is essential if we are to meet our legislated emissions targets.

Which electric utes are available now – or coming soon?

Australia’s firstelectric uteis theLDV eT60. It’s hugely expensive at around A$93,000, almost twice the cost of its diesel counterpart.

So how can we be confident electric utes willtake off? Because the technology isn’t standing still. As EVs get better and as worldwide battery production skyrockets, prices will fall. Many other models will soon be available.

States and territories are also introducing policies to reduce the cost of purchase, such asbasing the costof registering a vehicle on its emissions.

Within seven years, electric vans and utesare predictedto make up over 50% of all light duty commercial vehicles. This could come even sooner with supportive government policies.

There’s also a renewed interest in local manufacturing. Queensland’sAce EV Groupplans to launch a small, cheap electric ute with the ability to charge your tools from its battery, while other outfits offerto convertyour existing car to electric.

The route to electric utes

The switch to electric is – at last – beginning in earnest. But time is of the essence. To accelerate, we need more variety and more affordable EVs, including light duty vehicles and utes.

一个策略设置仍然阻碍我们前进的是洛杉矶ck of mandatoryfuel efficiency standards. If we had these, we would seemuch faster change.

Labor last year promised Australia would at last have ambitious mandatoryfuel-efficiency standards. They can’t come soon enough.

Thisarticlewas originally published on The Conversation.

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