The social, political and environmental impact of the mass adoption of electric vehicles in Australia will be explored by the University of Melbourne through a partnership with Better Place Australia. The company’s first demonstration electric vehicle is housed at the University of Melbourne and will be used to evaluate the new technology. It is hoped that one day the entire University fleet could be converted to electric.
Director of the University of Melbourne Materials Institute, Professor Steven Prawer, says the University community is excited by the prospect of working on a transformative technology which is likely to have a major impact on the people live, work and travel.
“This initiative is set to make a significant contribution to Victoria’s environmental agenda by combining the University’s broad research endeavours with the business and consumer side of the innovation process,” he says.
CEO of Better Place Australia, Evan Thornley, says the partnership is an important step in the collaboration between public and private sectors which should accelerate a move toward the mass adoption of zero emissions private transport.
“Our research shows there's proven demand for electric vehicles, and this partnership is further evidence that the transition is inevitable. The challenge now lies with companies like Better Place, carmakers, the energy sector and governments alike to harness this demand to fast-track solutions,” he says.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding, Better Place and the University of Melbourne also plan to develop a state of the art energy education facility at the main university campus providing the public with hands-on access to the latest technologies.
This new facility, where students and guests will be able to ‘touch and feel’ the exhibits as they learn about electric vehicles, energy and the environment, will set new benchmarks in experiential education Design of the facility is scheduled to begin in 2011.
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