EVs no more expensive than petrol cars: ACT Government

Electric cars cost no more to run than petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles, according to the ACT government, which claims to have the largest EV fleet in the country.

Since 2018 the ACT government has stipulated all vehicles to be zero emissions where practical (off-road vehicles are one exception where traditional ICE cars remain).

And after crunching the numbers the Government has concluded it is no more expensive to run EVs than it is a fleet of traditional petrol cars.

The key is lower running costs – especially servicing and charging – according to Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.

“We have seen across the board an 80 percent reduction in running costs from the ICE that the vehicles are replacing to the EVs that we’re running now,” said Minister Rattenbury at a media event in Canberra to open the ActewAGL station, the first public hydrogen refueling station in Australia.

The ACT Government has taken delivery of 20 Hyundai Nexo fuel cell cars as part of a trial.

The hydrogen station is publicly available and will provide free hydrogen for the first year – for those who can afford the anticipated big costs of being an early adopter of one of two FCEVs available in Australia in limited numbers, the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai.

Minister Rattenbury said Australia’s chief scientist Alan Finkel was one who may end up utilising the newly-minted H2 refueling station.

“I know Professor Finkel is pretty keen to have his own hydrogen vehicle here in Canberra, so hopefully we can embrace that vision.”

Some of the ACT Government’s reduced EV running cost savings are diluted by higher up-front costs of EVs and the anticipated higher depreciation, which is partially offset by holding onto the cars for a year longer than the Government did previously.

“As a government we have been able to make a cost-neutral transition by simply a reduction in running costs, a reduction in servicing costs and tweaking our leasing period from a three- to four-year lease to cover the additional upfront costs.

“We are demonstrating very practically that the new vehicles that are coming onto the market … that a zero-emissions future is possible – and it’s practical in Australia.”

Minister Rattenbury even took a swipe at his Federal Government counterparts, who campaigned against EVs at the last election, arguing the Labor party wanted to “end the weekend” by bringing in targets for EV take-up.

“The federal government may not think so, it certainly hasn’t ruined the weekend in the ACT but it has made our public servants get around in cars … they’re telling their kids about.”

Rattenbury also called on the Federal Coalition to adopt the ACT Government’s policy of buying electric cars for its fleet, arguing it would benefit consumers.

“If the Commonwealth took on the same policy that we took in place you can create a market to give the suppliers confidence to bring the vehicles into the country in a way that would them make them more available for the average Australian.

“It would bring the price down, it would create supply.”

Given the Government doesn’t even yet have future emissions regulations – leaving car makers in limbo as to what tech to bring to Australia – don’t expect any meaningful action any time soon…