Inviting the Sydney community to come and try an electric vehicle (EV) was a welcome move: nearly 2,000 people came along to our first-ever EVs for Everyone Drive Day. Visitors enjoyed the opportunity to drive an EV around the Sydney Motorsport Park track and came away more positive about an electric-powered future.
This event was part of Transurban's data-driven EVs for Everyone research and education initiative that is targeting the 'high-kilometre and car reliant' communities that will most benefit from transitioning to electric vehicles. This is because fuel and running cost savings and emissions reductions are highest among those who drive the most.
Despite this, our research found most 'high-kilometre and car-reliant' households are in outer suburbs, where household costs are rising and EVs can seem out-of-reach. We also found these households had low awareness and understanding of the total cost of owning an EV and of the available affordability solutions.
Our EVs for Everyone initiative is designed to help these communities recognise the benefits of EV ownership and to share knowledge about cost savings, charging solutions and help bust EV myths that serve as barriers to widespread adoption. In the past year, many more affordable models have appeared on the Australian market and used EVs are also becoming available.
The EVs for Everyone Drive Day, officially opened by Sally Quinnell, Member for Camden and Co-Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of EVs, featured 22 different EV models for participants to test-drive.
Visitors found themselves behind the wheel of EVs ranging from entry-level to high-end luxury models, plus utes and other commercial vehicles. A zero-emissions bus also provided tours of the track and proved a real hit, while younger visitors had a ball with all the free activities, including e-go karts, arcade games, music, food trucks and more.
Event partners shared info on everything from salary sacrificing and novated leasing to low-cost charging options, as well as information on solar and battery rebates and new vehicle-to-grid technology. EV owners from the Australian Electric Vehicle Association were on hand to answer prospective owners' questions.
Visitors left the event more informed and enthusiastic about EVs, with 87% of surveyed respondents saying they learnt something new about EV affordability solutions and 83% saying they were more likely to buy an EV. For 76% of survey respondents, this event was their first time getting behind the wheel of an EV.
Learn more about our EVs for Everyone initiative.
