Electric vehicles: the solution to emissions from transport

The environmental impacts of all industry sectors are coming under more and more scrutiny around the world, given the current focus on climate change, environmental impacts and energy security. The transport sector is included in this scrutiny; it is responsible for about 14 per cent of Australia's carbon dioxide emissions, with about half of this due to passenger and light commercial vehicles. Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions from transport have grown by 29 per cent since 1990. One technology that can contribute to sustainable transport is that of electric vehicles, including electric-assisted bicycles, electric scooters and motorcycles, and electric passenger vehicles. The main advantage of electric vehicles is that they can be recharged using electricity generated from clean, renewable energy sources, at a lower environmental and monetary cost than a petrol or diesel car. The main disadvantage of electric vehicles is that they have limited range and long recharge times compared to fossil-fuelled vehicles, and so can not match the versatility of conventional cars. However, low-mass electric vehicles are much better suited to the short commutes that make up almost all of the trips made by conventional cars. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217711.