ACT Branch

Interested in joining AEVA?

To join AEVA, click here. Once you are a member you'll get regular email updates. Make sure you nominate the ACT as your home branch.

Crowdfunding for Braidwood charger

A crowdfunding campaign has been set up by AEVA member Mark Hemmingsen to install two charging points at the Royal Mail Hotel in Braidwood. This is not an AEVA endorsed project, but we are linking to it here for convenience.

August Know Your EV Workshop

EV at a DC charging station

The ACT Branch presents its next hands-on course for potential and new EV owners. The course covers the basics of owning, driving and charging an EV.

Saturday 26th August 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Woden Library, Phillip ACT 2606

Course outline

EV basics: the similarities and differences between EVs and internal combustion engine cars
Charging your EV: for travel around Canberra
Charging your EV: for distance touring
The EV driving experience (noise, acceleration, regenerative breaking, charging apps, charging etiquette)
Visit a public charger for hands-on experience

Please register via Eventbrite.

EV registrations in the ACT

As of 21 August 2023, the ACT has 5,291 registered electric vehicles.

This represents over 1.6% of the total number of light vehicles registered.

EVs registered as of 14 August 2023

More detailed statistics on ACT vehicle registrations are available.

Recent events

5,000 EV publicity

On Tuesday 11th July AEVA ACT was proud to be apart of the media announcment with Minister Shane Rattenbury of over 5,000 registered electric vehicles in the ACT. WIN TV and the ABC covered the event that inlcuded the launch of an online tool to help choose an electric vehicle.

ACT Paul and Shane Rattenbury

AEVA ACT members Paul and Kate. Paul is showing Minister Shane Ratenbury his electric motorcycle. Source: ACT Government

A summary of previous activities of the ACT Branch, including photos of some events, may be found here.

New recommendations on public chargers

On 12 May, the Branch released revised recommendations for public chargers to meet the needs of ACT EV drivers. Key recommendations include:

Canberra needs at least two rapid EV chargers, and many cheaper, slower chargers, in each of its seven districts and the Parliamentary Triangle
New EV charging stations must be accessible to people with disabilities. For example, they must allow people with limited mobility to reach and manipulate charging cables and move freely around their vehicle
It is recommended that the ACT Government work with the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council to provide at least two fast chargers in Braidwood that Canberra EV drivers would use to travel to and from the South Coast.

Who we are

We are the ACT Branch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA). We are a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting electric vehicle technology (including cars, trucks, buses, bikes and scooters) in the ACT. Our members include early adopters and DIY enthusiasts who have converted petrol cars to EVs. Our key motivations include abating emissions and decreasing Australia's dependence on imported fossil fuels. We celebrate the fact that EVs are cleaner, quieter, safer and more reliable.

We aim to promote the uptake of EVs in Canberra. We do this in a context of government support. The ACT Government has a set of policies supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles, and our Branch is working with the ACT Government to encourage this transition.

Our core project for 2021-22 was the "Zero Emissions, Go Electric" Project. This project was funded by a Community Zero Emissions Grant from the ACT Government. A final report on the Project, as presented to the ACT Government's Grants Officer, may be found here.

Our Branch Committee

Current office holders are:

Interim Chair: Ben Elliston (chair@act.aeva.asn.au)

Secretary: Darryl Bourke (secretary@act.aeva.asn.au)

Treasurer: Peter Gorton (treasurer@act.aeva.asn.au)

Director: Jude Burger (representing ACT on the National Council)

General Committee members: Peter Campbell, Warwick Cathro, Simon Claringbold, Mark Hemmingsen, Peter Lyons and Rob Ogilvie.

Anyone seeking contact details for other members of the Executive should request them from the Secretary.

Meetings

Our meetings are opportunities to share ideas among our members, to hear from guest speakers, to plan events, and to share information on technical matters.

Our next meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday 21st August 2023.

Our General Meetings are usually held on the third Monday of each month, at 7pm at the Harmonie German Club. In December or late November there is usually a social gathering such as a barbecue at a picnic site.

All members attending these meetings are asked to become members of the Harmonie German Club ($5 annual fee).

AEVA members can access the agendas and minutes of recent monthly ACT Branch meetings. You will need to sign on and to have the status of a financial member in order to view these documents.

Click here to access agendas and minutes

Forum and Facebook pages

The main place tor AEVA discussions is the AEVA Forums website where many topics are discussed among AEVA members all over Australia.

Another popular destination is the Canberra EV Facebook page. "Canberra EV" was the name of the group prior to affiliating with AEVA There is also a private AEVA ACT Facebook page here, for the exchange of information that is relevant only to AEVA members.

Influencing government policies

The ACT Branch advocates for EV-friendly policies in the ACT and, as a very active branch, contributes to AEVA advocacy at the national level.

2023

In May 2023, the ACT Branch made a significant contribution to the development of AEVA's national submission on fuel efficiency standards to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Also in May 2023, the Branch issued its recommendations for public EV charging infrastructure in the ACT. This document replaced earlier versions issued in 2021 and 2022, and included recommendations to support the needs of drivers with disabilities.