Other Good Stuff

Federal MPs to ride in Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai electric cars in Comcar trial

Published by

The Driven

The federal government’s Comcar fleet has chosen a Tesla Model 3 long range electric car and a Hyundai Ioniq EV to take part in a trial to assess how best to integrate electric cars into the day-to-day transport services of parliament staff and guests.

The vehicles will be trialled by the department of finance over a two-year period in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, focussing on the ins and outs of charging the vehicles and associated costs.

They are the first EVs made available to federal politicians, although NSW energy minister Matt Kean already has a Tesla Model 3, which he is pretty pleased about.  See: “Best car I’ve ever driven”: NSW energy minister’s new car is Tesla Model 3

The Comcar trial, which has already begun, is at best is a tacit acknowledgement that electric vehicle technology is mature enough for use in the federal fleet, and at worst is an indirect admission that the Coalition’s 2019 attack on electric vehicles was just plain out of line, has been a long time coming.

Electric cars were originally overlooked by Comcar in 2020 in favour of diesel-hungry BMW 6 series GTs and hybrid Toyota Camrys (which use less fuel than a non-hybrid but must burn it nonetheless).

Senate estimates later confirmed that although two Tesla vehicles – the premium $130,000 Model S and $150,000 Model X – were taken for a short test drive, they never actually made it to the shortlist for a more comprehensive test.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Hunter Valley coal mine gets second life as motorsport park

An historic coal mine is being transformed into Australia’s first dedicated recreation resort park for…

29 March 2024

Could $1 billion actually bring solar manufacturing back to Australia? It’s worth a shot

By 2050, solar should provide most of our electricity – but only if we have enough…

28 March 2024

Hydro Tasmania on the hunt for a new CEO amid political and renewable turmoil

Tasmanian utility begins hunt for new CEO, following the news that current chief will step…

28 March 2024

Capacity Investment Scheme needs to set high bar for communities hosting renewables

Without exception, the CIS should encourage projects that do good community engagement, with good environmental…

28 March 2024

Australia’s biggest coal generator teams up with SunDrive to make solar at Liddell

AGL signs MoU with Cannon-Brookes backed PV innovator SunDrive to explore "first of its kind"…

28 March 2024

Solar ducks and big batteries: How Alice Springs grid could run five hours a day with no fossil fuels

Alice Springs may be able to run on 100 pct renewables for an average five…

28 March 2024