Shire of Harvey unveils first of 129 electric vehicles to be rolled out under climate-friendly policy

One South West shire is on the road to meet its climate goals with the unveiling of its first brand new electric vehicle.

The reveal of the new vehicle means the Shire of Harvey is closer to its target of having 30 per cent of its light vehicle fleet electrified by 2030.

The council voted in favour of the roll out earlier this year and was quick to reach out to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to register its interest in the EV project.

The shire was selected as one of more than 20 local governments to receive part of $12.26 million from ARENA to support its transition to electric vehicles.

This funding, along with funding from the State Government, partnered local governments and the shire itself, will result in the roll-out of 129 electric vehicles in total.

“This is a first-of-its-kind initiative and we are thrilled to be part of it,” shire CEO Annie Riordan said.

“The shire’s own vehicle and accompanying charging infrastructure arrived this week and has marked the beginning of our 30 per cent fleet electrification goal.”

Ms Riordan said the new vehicle would be used by the waste and safety services team, who had given nothing but positive feedback.

The battery of the new car is cobalt-free and with charging using the solar systems at shire buildings, the emissions from its production will be offset after around 15,000km.

Ms Riordan said this strategy was just one of many being implemented to reduce emissions.

“So far, work in this space has included dune re-nourishment, becoming a WaterWise council and diverting organic matter from landfill through our FOGO program,” she said.

“We are also rolling out solar panels across all major shire buildings and working with local stakeholders to protect our coastline and the Collie River through a coastal hazard risk management and adaptation plan.

“The new EV is the latest in a pipeline of eco-friendly initiatives and forward planning that will keep the shire in step with other local governments across Australia and support our community’s transition into an increasingly green Harvey region.”