Episode 36: In Conversation with Shane Rattenbury MLA, Attorney General and Minister for Water, Energy, and Emissions Reduction in the Australian Capital Territory
In Episode 36:
Next week, the government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is set to introduce a raft of incentives for the purchase of new and used zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Shane Rattenbury MLA is the Attorney-General of the ACT, and holds a number of ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Water, Energy, and Emissions Reduction.
The Minister joins me on EV Brief Podcast this week to discuss the ACT's Transition to Zero-Emissions Vehicles Plan, climate change strategy, renewable energy, how the Territory can be EV ready, and more.
For more information on the Attorney-General: Legislative Assembly for the ACT
For more information on the ACT's climate change strategy: ACT Climate Change Strategy
Recorded 20/5/21.
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:18 - ACT's 100% renewable electricity reality
01:18 - Energy storage in the ACT
02:43 - Gas-free government buildings and the transition away from fossil fuels
04:45 - How do Australian states and territories work effectively with a federal government when they have different energy and climate policy objectives?
07:15 - Will the ACT roll out renewables resources within its borders?
08:58 - Benefits of a just transition to clean energy, and interest-free loans
09:58 - Energy inequality
10:29 - The future of energy storage
11:42 - The ACT's incentives to encourage EV uptake
15:30 - Transitioning government fleets to zero-emission vehicles
16:15 - Trialing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) in the territory
18:45 - Why trial FCVs in the ACT?
20:12 - Tackling transport emissions from heavy and commercial vehicles
21:32 - Public transport is key to reducing emissions and congestion
23:39 - Challenges associated with transitioning government fleets to ZEVs
25:20 - Outlining policy and regulation around EV charging infrastructure in the Territory
28:08- Rolling out a DC fast-charging network in the ACT
29:29 - What motivates and inspires the Minister in his environmental advocacy?
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Episode 35: Nissan Leaf e+, Mazda MX-30 Electric available in Australia, Q1 global EV Sales Figures, Electric School Buses in the US and Victoria's EV tax
This episode is packed with news as Nissan finally launches its 62 kWh Leaf e+ to Australian buyers, and Mazda releases the attractive yet restricted MX-30 Electric. Toyota seems to be coming round to BEVs, we look at global EV sales figures from Q1 2021, Revel goes all-in on an electric rideshare program in NYC, Lion Electric ramps up production and construction of its new manufacturing facility in Detroit.
NIO is set to open in Europe from next year, while Norway will get the first NIO HOUSE sales and service facility on the continent, in preparation for the ES8 SUV. Finally, we talk about Victoria’s controversial EV tax and Australia’s unending support for funding fossil fuel-based projects.
In EPISODE 35:
0'00" - Introduction;
0'44" - Nissan's Leaf e+ lands in Australia
1'25" - Mazda's MX-30 Electric on sale in Australia
2'13" - Toyota shows off BZ4X fully electric SUV
3'21" - Global EV sales figures from Q1 2021
4'40" - Revel launches Tesla-based rideshare service in NYC
5'21" - Lion Electric to build new manufacturing facility in Illinois
6'27" - NIO to commence Norwegian operations this year
6'11" - Victoria's EV Tax; what is the government doing to quell the outrage?
11'38 - Australian government backs gas, and leaves EVs out in the cold
12'35" - Wrap up
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Episode 34: In Conversation with Dr. Alina Dini, Energy Policy Expert on EV Uptake and Renewables
In EPISODE 34:
This week, we speak with Dr. Alina Dini, who has a vast amount of experience across the clean energy and electric vehicle spaces.
Dr. Dini is an energy policy expert with a background working for the State of California, Tesla and the Queensland Government, she is the founder and CEO of Whirl, an online peer-to-peer clean technology marketplace, and has completed a PhD that looks at addressing the low take-up rate of EVs in Australia, titled "Influence of New Car Buyers' Purchase Experience on Plug‐in Vehicle Demand".
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction
2:00 - Dr. Dini’s background employment
4:22 - Consumer attitudes to electric vehicles in Australia
5:33 - The EV buying experience
6:58 - The direct sales model for vehicle purchasing
11:47 - The Whirl EV ambassador program
13:18 - An online platform for unbiased EV advice
17:33 - Australia lacks a political vision to shift to clean energy
18:40 - What can Australia do to induce greater EV demand?
19:55 - Environmental concerns from transport emissions - is there a compromise?
25:15 - What does Dr. Dini drive?
27:26 - Experience of owning an EV, charging, range and usage
29:18 - How can we be EV ready in cities?
30:19 - Will mass EV uptake affect the electricity grid?
31:44 - Hydrogen as a fuel source
35:00 - Increasing battery storage capacity; will this help EV adoption?
36:42 - Should government and network operators control what happens behind the meter?
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Whirl: Electric Car Shopping: https://giveitawhirl.co/
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