WA EV Trial

Australia’s First Electric Vehicle Trial

_MG_9363CO2 Smart will be the official trial manager for Australia’s first large scale electric vehicle trial. This trial will be conducted in the most challenging metropolitan environment in Australia for electric vehicles – Perth. Perth has amongst the largest average commuting distances in the World, as well as an infrastructure stretched by the large geographic area;

Perth covers an area over 100% greater than Sydney. This puts significant strain on electricity and other infrastructure.

If electric vehicles prove both usable and economic in Perth, they will be usable and economic across almost the entire Australian continent. Perth is the ideal proving ground, and the ideal location for the first Australian electric vehicle trial.

Ten electric vehicles will be used as regular fleet vehicles for two years. The electric vehicles will make use of a specially implemented work, home and public place smart recharging network being implemented for the trial.

The trial has the following research objectives:

  • Test realistic fleet usability, given distance, behavioural and range factors
  • Full comparative economic study electric vehicles versus fuel vehicles
  • Testing of the first integrated recharging network (smart grid/V2G elements)  – generate alternative infrastructure scenarios based on usability and economic analysis
  • Testing to what extent distributed high capacity recharging required and the potential grid impacts thereof
  • Provide data points for initial findings on energy policy, transport regulation and vehicle taxation

But equally as important, the trial has a clear objective to enable Western Australian Universities and research agencies to take key roles in the project, in order to build hands-on technical and research experience.

To achieve this goal the vehicle conversion prototype is being completed by the W.A. Renewable Energy Vehicle Team at University of Western Australia, after which a promising local electric vehicle firm will complete the remaining nine vehicles to the agreed blueprint.

The WA EV Trial is made possible by the following participants:

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