Queensland $3000 subsidy for electric cars has been welcomed by Master Electricians Australia, which is urging the State Government to target it towards vehicles equipped for high-tech home charging.

MEA Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Richards said the future of electric vehicles was bi-directional charging, which allowed the car to act as a battery to provide power back into the home at peak times.

“We welcome the Queensland Government’s initiative as a step in the right direction,” Mr Richards said.

“With some simply regulatory reform, they can maximise the benefits not only to owners of EVs, but to all electricity users.

“We’d like to see the incentives targeted at bi-directional vehicles, which would take pressure of the electricity network at peak times, which in turn would lower costs for all electricity consumers whether they have an electric car or not.”

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Bi-directional vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, can effectively act as a battery to support home power use, drawing from the network at periods of lower demand, and then feeding back into the home at times of high demand.

Mr Richards said the state could also help reduce pressure on the electricity network by adopting demand driven electricity tariffs, which would encourage owners to charge the vehicles over night or in the middle of the day when private solar systems are feeding maximum power into the grid.

“We have some of the best emissions-free power in the world available to us, but ironically the network is reaching a point where we will need to start turning off solar systems in the middle of the day because they are generating more power that we need,” he said.

“If the Queensland Government were to support their electric vehicle incentive with tariffs to encourage charging in low usage times, and bi-directional charging, we will be taking a very big step towards an emissions-free future for our electricity.

“With the scheme not due to begin until July 1, we have time to get these extra details right so we can truly have a smart power network for the smart state.”

Malcolm Richards is available for interview. Please phone The SAS Group on 07 3221 9222 or 0467 792 013.