FARMER interest in electric vehicles has improved but for it to continue on an upward trajectory, EV industry leaders believe improved government policy and vehicle availability underpinned its success.
SA-based electric utility vehicle manufacturer Zero Automotive is working on a longer-range vehicle to help better meet the needs of the agriculture sector.
Managing director David Mitchell said farmer interest in Utes had improved, as well as increased ag-related inquiry.
"There is increased interest in remote areas from farmers or ag-related companies because once they are setup with solar and off-grid platforms, they can have these vehicles doing 100-200 kilometre range across the property and charge without paying for any energy usage. Which is a big benefit," he said.
"A lot of our focus has surrounded building technology suited for the mining industry and the price for the vehicle is quite high because of the battery chemistry."
But, the manufacturer has since begun early-stage development of a much cheaper, long-range alternative for general purpose style vehicle, with about 400km of battery range.
"The largest interest is coming from mining but with improved access to charging stations across rural and remote areas, it could improve ag-related interest in EVs," Mr Mitchell said.
JET Charge, an electric vehicle infrastructure company which has helped to trial DC charging bays in SA's rural and regional areas, is leading the charge on providing these communities with a path to electrification.
JET Charge chief executive officer Tim Washington believed it was industry's job to ensure rural and regional people were not "left behind" as the global-shift to EVs increased.
"As an industry and as a charging industry, we need to make sure there are enough stations so people feel comfortable with the shift to electrification," he said.
"There is without doubt not the appropriate choice of vehicles available for regional and remote communities and at the price points they need - anyone who argues otherwise, is not telling the truth."
Mr Washington believed government policies had slowed the path to electrification, particularly for rural communities which required greater vehicle range.
"The right government policies will ensure cheaper and fit for purpose electric vehicles suited to regional people can come to Australia," he said.
"These vehicles do exist globally, just not here."
Mr Washington also believed it was important to build EV pathways to all regional areas, after he'd gained insight into business requirements for regional people.
"Rural people doing business or requiring access to services within other regional communities is a really strong consideration which has come to light," he said.
"We are at the beginning of battery innovation, we are starting to see EVs released in overseas markets with 1000 kilometres of range on a single charge. Compare it to a diesel tank with about 1200-1300km range, it is beginning to look more like what we need."
The agriculture sector could also benefit from EV bidirectional charging technology to power on-farm infrastructure and reduce energy costs.
"We noticed farmers enjoy independence and EVs can improve this. They could generate electricity, store electricity and run a property from the car as well," Mr Washington said.
But Primary Producers SA chair Simon Maddocks believed many factors would determine how and when farmers would make use of greater availability of EVs.
"There is no doubt a greater number of charging stations will help people travel around the state and we definitely need more of those in regional areas," he said.
"The real challenge from a primary industries perspective is the type of EVs. There are utility vehicles available overseas which are not yet available for Australian farmers."
Mr Maddocks believed regional communities benefited from new charging sites but farmers would need to have access to a sufficient power source at home for it to become viable.
"There are a range of considerations which come into play as to when does it become possible for farmers to start using EVs," he said.
"Most electric vehicles are passenger vehicles at the moment, so there is still restricted availability of good carrying vehicles and most farmers would drive a multipurpose car."
Mr Maddocks believed once these factors improved, farmer uptake would most likely improve.
Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
