The global electric vehicle (EV) market is emerging at a flourishing pace, with the motive of significantly reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is emitted by the existing gas-powered vehicles and other sectors. However, the growing adoption of electric vehicles begins to face fuel scarcity, as the energy grids are not enough to fulfill the requirement.
Wind energy could be an alternative during such energy shortage situations. But the EV market could not rely on wind power due to uncertainties in climatic conditions. Power-to-X technologies can use surplus renewable energy by offering that energy for a specific period to other sectors. EV owners can grab that extra renewable energy produced at the wind farms for a specified period. Later, they have to return this clean energy back to the grid. That means electric vehicles can be used as short-term portable storage units to hold the surplus renewable energy.
On a related note, in sparsely populated regions of Australia, where one has to travel continuously for 8–10 Hours, the residents rarely prefer electric vehicles. As the EVs need to be refueled in intervals during such long drives, so the EV chargers network needs to be set up.
ARENA, the Australian Renewable Energy Association, has decided to invest in EV charging infrastructure development. The agency has recently invested $10 Million in Evie Networks, Australian fast-charging network company. An Australian businessperson Trevor St Baker usually funds Evie Networks. He is the director of the St Baker Energy Trust and chairperson of Sunset Power International.
The agency has funded $50.2 Million in the first phase of EV project for establishing a series of ultra-fast EV chargers of 350 kW throughout an intercity highway network in Australia. The project is intended to be developed along the National Land Transport Network, which includes all the national highways and rail links.
