Electric vehicle adoption is increasing in Australia, as it is in many other parts of the world. However, take-up in Australia has been slow due to unfavourable policy settings and lack of electric vehicle supply. In addition, electric vehicles that make it to the country have a limited greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential due to Australia’s carbon-intensive electricity mix. While some jurisdictions have successfully transitioned to generating electricity from predominantly renewable energies, the average Australian electricity mix remains significantly more emission intensive compared to Europe, North America and China. In order to accelerate emissions reduction from road transport, which still accounts for approx. 15% of all of Australia greenhouse gas emissions, positive energy road technologies are investigated, which enable the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources within the road corridor, i.e., close to where electric vehicles operate. A framework using a set of assessment criteria is discussed which helps to evaluate the suitability of positive energy road technologies in Australia. Solar and small wind devices are deemed most suitable and have already been implemented in some jurisdictions. However, the overall energy contribution from positive energy road technologies in considered to be limited compared to large scale renewable energy power plants.

ARRB: Robert Kochhan