Electric vehicle charging stations will soon be installed in Hobsons Bay.
The council will also trial electric cars as part of its fleet, mayor Angela Altair said.
“EVs are a small but growing part of the vehicle market,” she said. “It is expected that there will be as many as 10 million EVs in Australia by 2037.”
Cr Jonathon Marsden said the council would work with the community and businesses to identify possible charging sites.
“The trial will consider EVCS as part of council’s Energy$mart program that provides subsidies to businesses for solar and lighting upgrades,” he said.
He said Smart Poles – multifunctional poles providing technology like WiFi, lighting and cameras – could become charging stations.
Williamstown’s Jeff Challis, whose Yarraville business has an EVCS, said he liked to think of it as a modern version of free WiFi.
“Ideally, if Hobsons Bay City Council works with other councils around the bay and co-ordinated a network around the bay, then that would be fantastic,” he said. “One good position would be somewhere like Williamstown – Nelsons Place – or Altona near the beach, somewhere that would attract tourists on the bay trail.
“The DC fast chargers would add between 100-200 kilometres/range per hour. The more cost-effective option is more of a destination charge – somewhere where people can top up whilst having lunch/dinner or watching a movie.”
There are 78 EVCS in Melbourne, including at Paint Spot in West Footscray and Point Cook Town Centre.
