When you think of an electric vehicle, chances are youll picture a car.
But theres a quiet revolution going on in transport.
There will soon be no need to burn petrol and diesel in an internal combustion engine.
This matters, because electric transport will be vital in our efforts to stem climate change.
If all cars on the road became powered by renewable electricity, wed cut almost one-fifth of our emissions.
But this is only the beginning of whats required.
A Borland Electric Model car from the early 20th century. Image:
Right now, all the focus is on electric cars.
We will need new policy prefs to encourage the electrification of all our transport options.
And that means getting electric mobility on the radar of our political parties.
Why electric and why now?
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Electric vehicles have been around for more than 120 years.
These remarkable inventions have allowed electric vehicle manufacturers to become competitive.
The much simpler engines also mean vastly lower maintenance costs.
Were also seeing major innovations brought across from electric public transport.
Even tractors are going electric, with a key marketing point the ability for farmers to recharge through their own solar arrays. Image:
These breakthroughs have been taken up enthusiastically by electric vehicle manufacturers.
This is made possible based on technologiesinventedfor high-speed rail.
In short, theres no reason why solar and battery technology has to be limited to cars.
All the worlds land-based internal combustion engine vehicles can now be replaced by electric equivalents.
Electric mobility is arriving
Youll already have seen signs of the potential of electric mobility.
E-scooters are popping up in major cities, giving people a way to make short trips quickly and cheaply.
E-bikes are surging ahead, popular among commuters and families choosing oneover a second car.
Even this is just the start.
Even without much government assistance, Australians are shifting rapidly to all types of electric vehicle.
But for Australia to embrace electric transport as fully as we can, we need the right policy tweaks.
The policies on offer to date suggest no party has figured out the radical upheaval electrification will bring.
Theres no mention of other electric modes of transport.
Even the Greens have little serious policy analysis of the broader EV options.
The Liberals have no mention at all.
By focusing on all transport modes, we will make our citiesmore equitable, safe and sustainable.
