The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed a total of 21.8 million Australian dollars to three electric mobility projects, alongside funding to facilitate the transition of the country’s car rental sector to electric vehicles (EVs).
The largest portion of the investment, 15.8 million AUD (approximately 10.4 million USD), will support industrial freight provider Centurion in adding 30 battery-electric trucks to its fleet. Centurion will also install 15 chargers, totaling 30 charge points, at its depot in Hazelmere.
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Patrick Terminals, Western Australia’s largest container terminal, will receive 2.5 million AUD (1.65 million USD) to deploy nine battery-electric trucks and related fast chargers at the Port of Freemantle. This project is expected to be the first of its kind in Australia, according to ARENA.
The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) will receive the remaining 3.5 million AUD (2.31 million USD) to coordinate the delivery of 129 light battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and the required charging infrastructure. These new EVs will join 22 local government fleets.
“These three projects demonstrate a variety of vehicles and use cases for EVs, including industries that have previously proved challenging to reduce vehicle emissions,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller.
In addition to these projects, ARENA has allocated 4.76 million AUD (3.15 million USD) through the Driving the Nation Program to Europcar Mobility Group for its ‘Electric Rental Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Rollout’ project. This initiative aims to install 256 chargers across at least 41 sites in Australia to support the deployment of around 3,100 passenger electric rental vehicles over the next three years. Locations will include airports, metropolitan hubs, and regional areas.
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The project also seeks to bolster the second-hand car market, as Europcar Mobility Group plans to operate the EVs for up to two years. “Europcar Mobility Group’s project, while helping to reduce emissions in the fleet and rental car market, will also help to get a wider range of EVs into the second-hand market, and that’s a win-win for both the company and Australians looking to purchase,” explained Miller.
