Imagine a day in the future when our cars hum with otherworldly energy, the air is free from exhaust fumes, and our carbon footprint moves to a different beat.
It might sound too good to be true, but this is actually the realm of electric vehicles. And recently, the rest of the world has witnessed various nations driving in that direction…
And you guessed it; Tassie is no exception.
Figures from the State Growth Department revealed that the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on Tasmania’s roads has increased by 77 per cent in the past year. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of EVs registered in Tasmania went from 912 as of January 31, 2022, to 1,612 at the same time this year.
The majority of these vehicles, 1,480 to be exact, fall into the category of motor cars or station wagons, although 120 motorbikes, 8 vans, 2 utility vehicles, and 2 buses are also included in the list. E-scooters are also one these electric transportations that may be used on most footpaths, shared paths, bike lanes, and roads with a speed limit under 50 km/h.
Truth be told, we don’t see this ‘trend’ slowing down anytime soon. In fact, the figures are anticipated to double again over the next 12 months.
Whilst this sounds pretty cool to the environment, not everything is smooth roads and seamless transitions. If you’re in Tassie and you’re an EV owner or user, one thing that may have been keeping you frustrated is charging your wheels.
Unfortunately, if you don’t have a personal charger installed at home, it’s challenging to find a charging port nearby.
But here’s some exciting news Tasmanians! A new charging port with two stations is being installed just across from the 4one4 Property Co. offices in the Northgate Shopping Centre. Finally, a nearby station for all eco-conscious early adopters and tech-savvy explorers around the area!
Supported by the ARENA Future Fuels fund, this Electric Highway Tasmania (EHT) site can charge 2 vehicles at 50kW or a single vehicle at 80kW.
4one4 Property Co’s Property Management Director and would you know it EV user, Abbey Berry, sees this as a great opportunity for all EV users around the area.
Whilst she likes the overall performance of her EV, just like everybody else, Abbey’s biggest frustration was finding nearby public chargers.
“That’s been a real challenge because there’s not very many in Hobart at all. Launceston has quite a few, but Hobart, at the moment, doesn’t have many,” Abbey highlighted.
“That is why the one going into Glenorchy is really good. Had it been there for the last few months, I would have been there probably every week using it, but now, I have my one at home and the office, so I’m okay now.”
Using the website at PlugShare, You may check here other charging locations around Tassie or wherever you’re located in Australia and see which one is conveniently situated for you.
Abbey has also mentioned how this new development in Glenorchy could potentially be good for the area, tourism-wise.
“Since there are not many chargers, if people need a public charge, they’ll drive out of their way to come to Glenorchy and use the charger, and they have to do something while they wait.”
As an EV user for over 12 months now, Abbey shared that aside from her husband and 4one4’s Director, Patrick Berry’s influence and preference, one factor that they considered in switching from petrol to electric is its environmental effects.
Aside from this, Abbey has also shared some of the advantages of using an electric car over petrol ones, based on her experience. “To be honest, it just flat out performs so much better than my petrol cars ever have… I really enjoy driving it knowing it isn’t polluting the airways as I get from place to place. It’s a lot quieter than my previous car…. And to be honest, I love the idea of never having to go to a petrol station again ”
With a firm commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, 4one4 Property Co. is also planning to switch its fleet of work cars to electric in the future. Currently, the price range for EVs is a bit costly, but this is definitely one of the goals that the agency is looking at moving forward.
Tesla Application lodged for Hobart
In some other exciting news for those interested in EVs, news has just emerged of the first Tesla showroom being set to open in Tasmania later this year. The electric vehicle manufacturer is coming to a new location in Tasmania near Amart on the Brooker Highway in Hobart.
The Glenorchy City Council received a development application for the new showroom in April, and until June 6, the public was encouraged to comment on the project.
Once this development is completed, it could potentially mean one thing: a rise in EV car ownership in Tasmania in the future!
This can also spark an interesting conversation from a real estate perspective. Given that you have to pay for the installation if you’re a renter with an electric car, it won’t be surprising if landlords look into installing amenities like EV chargers in properties to make them more appealing. In the future, it might serve as a selling point for real estate, too.
So, whether you’re an EV enthusiast, a potential buyer contemplating a switch, or simply curious about the next big leap in transportation, buckle up; Tassie’s driving the charge towards a brighter and more electrified tomorrow!
