Energy Efficiency Electric Expo launched at Hobart's PW1

The 2024 edition of AEVA's National Conference and Expo, this year named the Energy Efficiency Electric Expo (EEE Expo), will be held from the 1-3 November 2024 in Hobart, Tasmania, at Princes Wharf 1 in Salamanca.

The Expo was launched this week, with organisers, stakeholders and media in attendance.

AEVA Tasmania's branch director, Jon Ettershank, spoke about the history of AEVA, the work that had been done by the association so far, and the opportunity for Tasmania to embrace the benefits that EVs can bring.

TasNetworks was announced as silver sponsor of the event, and their Sustainability Specialist Alison Johnson spoke about the actions TasNetworks is taking across the areas of renewables, electric vehicles and sustainability.

   

Businesses or organisations interested in sponsoring or exhibiting can download our Event Prospectus. 

Jon Ettershank's speech is included below:

On behalf of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association we’re very excited to be alongside our event managers, Leishman Associates and John Harris.

Welcome to the launch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association's National Conference and Energy Efficiency Electric Expo.

I’m Jon Ettershank, the state director and branch chair of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association.

This year, at our Expo in November, we celebrate our 51st year, the longest continuously running EV society in the world - we have a lot of history.

Back in 1973, a group of concerned scientists and electrical engineers formed a friendly forum for the dissemination of research and knowledge on electric transport in Australia.

The oil price shocks of the 70’s motivated lots of detailed studies into electric trains, buses, trucks and cars, but by the time substantive progress was being made on a range of battery chemistries, the price of fuel stabilised, and interest waned. 

In the mid 80s, frustrated with a lack of progress, the association turned to helping people convert Internal Combustion Engine (or ICE) vehicles to electric, as well as running regular "Electrathons" - part scrapheap challenge, part STEM development program, these motivated young and old to try their hands at building EVs.

This was a key focus for the organisation until the early 2010s, when a certain film called Who Killed the Electric Car screened around the world. Before long, Nissan, Mitsubishi and a startup called AC Propulsion (which later became Tesla Motors) were making compelling EVs for the world.

Now the AEVA could have declared "mission accomplished", but it was clear that there would still be a lot of roadblocks between the first Roadster and an EV in every carport.

To navigate those roadblocks and continue the transition, an independent voice representing the lived experience of EV drivers was still important.

The Australian Electric Vehicle Association remains that voice.  Our mission has not changed in 50 years - to accelerate the transition of our transport networks to electric drive as quickly as possible.

It remains more important than ever for an independent, consumer-focussed community like the Australian electric vehicle association to share lived experience and help build the groundswell of demand for electric cars, buses, trucks, bikes and scooters.

After 50 years, the Australian Electric Vehicle Association continues to stand for the EV driver, influencing policy, being a source of truth - educating and debunking the myths spread by big oil, big auto and media who can’t seem to resist a click bait headline.

Every year, Tasmania imports over a billion dollars of fossil fuel - it’s time to change that.

Electric vehicles are critical to a brighter, more sustainable future for Tasmanians.

They’re cheaper to run, quieter and fun to drive, and have zero emissions when powered from the states renewable electricity. 

For the petrol heads - don’t knock it till you’ve tried it - wait till you experience that instant torque. Give it a try and my guess is, you’ll be wearing the EV grin.

While EVs are generally more expensive to buy, prices are coming down rapidly and they are much cheaper to run.

In the lifetime of an EV the savings could be substantial, especially when charged with an off-peak tariff or solar system.

EVs also have far less moving parts than combustion engine vehicles, so they cost less to maintain. 

As you can see looking around us, the range of vehicles is expanding rapidly. You can find fact sheets for over 65 battery electric models currently available in Australia on our website at aeva.asn.au.

We expect to see a huge range of these on display at our Expo in November at Princes Wharf No 1 opposite Salamanca, along with a wide range of local businesses supporting the transition to an energy efficient electric future.

We’re uniquely positioned in Tasmania with a renewable grid to maximise the advantages and economics of an energy efficient electric future where every Tasmanian is better off.

We are working to make the Expo an annual event promoting energy efficiency, helping everyday Tasmanians save real dollars. In addition to creating an event that works to changing our thinking about energy efficiency, to reinforce that, we are very proud that this event in will be free to the public, with the aim of making it accessible to everyone.

That’s where you (our audience today) come in … we can only do this with the support of our partners and government.

At the conclusion of the presentation, around the venue there is a QR code that you can scan to download a copy of the Expo prospectus. I encourage you to consider partnering with AEVA to bring to life our vision.

In addition to the Expo, AEVA will also host the AEVA National Conference, which will take place on 1 November 2024.

The annual conference, which occurs in every state, will come to Tasmania; bringing 150-200 enthusiasts, policy makers, council representatives, and influencers from EV manufacturers and industry, and the buyer chain from around Australia to discuss the latest developments in EV use.

At the conference, we will be discussing and sharing the latest in:

• Fleet management and the business end of electric
• The State of Play and the electric future
• The economics of electrification
• Electrification policy and planning
• Charging
• Heavy vehicles, in the water and in the air and personal mobility

That’s just to name a few.

Again, with Event Managers Leishman Associates, we will be inviting the Australian EV community to Tasmania to participate in this important conference.

So, whether you’re a corporation looking to showcase your latest innovations, a government agency seeking to promote sustainable policies or a community organisation dedicated to driving positive change, we invite you to join us on this journey.

By partnering with AEVA and the Energy Efficiency Electric Expo, you are actively contributing to the transition towards a cleaner, more efficient energy landscape. Together, we can amplify our impact, raise awareness, and inspire others to take action.

Together, let’s harness the power of innovation and collaboration to create a world where energy is clean, efficient, and accessible to all.

 

Photos: Charles Gregory, Tim O'Loughlin, Naylla Amadio