Vehicles for the Australian Defence Force could soon all be fully electric after Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Dan Repacholi MP, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles reportedly met with industry representatives to discuss the transition.
The news comes after the army released a video in 2022 titled "Electrification of the Battlefield," which highlighted the benefits of using near-silent battery-powered vehicles by special forces.
In 2019, the Australian Army Research Centre also published a whitepaper about the advantages of adopting hybrid and electric vehicles.
Operators were using Light Bee X electric trail bikes, made by the Canadian company Sur Ron, in addition to an electric buggy. The bikes have a stated range of about 100 kilometers.
Additionally, the Army has footage of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment doing reconnaissance on Stealth E electric bicycles in the past.
In late 2022, the Army showcased an electric, armored Bushmaster people-mover truck. The Royal Australian Regiment tested the prototype during mock medical situations.
The Army still operates petrol-powered Suzuki DRZ motorcycles, which means supply divisions must carry two types of fuel, even though the bulk of ADF vehicles are diesel-powered.
Read Also: Hyundai Doubles Down on EV Commitment, Cites the Need to Distinguish Itself From Competitors
Fully Electric Military Amid NVES
Transporting volatile fuels would be less necessary if the fleet converted to electric power, although generators would probably still need diesel.
The potential transfer of the Defense Force also comes after the nation's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which is scheduled to go into effect in early 2025.
Australia's NVES reportedly states automakers must produce fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level equivalent to that of a small country, and ensure that inhabitants have greater access to diesel, gasoline, hybrid, and electric vehicles for both personal and commercial usage.
Global EV Push
The Australian military is pushing for electric vehicles after other countries continue to pass laws endorsing EVs. In March, the Environmental Protection Agency declared that new regulations on the electric vehicle push within the US.
Even if the new rules first loosen the tailpipe limitations suggested last year, they ultimately conform to the same tight guidelines established by the EPA.
Car workers and the car industry rejected the modified criteria, which dropped the goal of a 67% adoption rate of electric vehicles by 2032 to as low as 35%.
Instead, the EPA established a "technology neutral" regulatory framework that allows automakers to use gas-electric hybrids with significantly more flexibility to fulfill emissions standards.
This strategy has been criticized by environmentalists as a band-aid solution that will delay the switch to electric automobiles.
The organization also implemented "advanced gasoline" technology to save fuel, such as turbocharging, lighter vehicles, and stop-start ignition systems.
Related Article: Electric Cars Pose Higher Risk to Pedestrians: Study
(Photo: Tech Times)
