Australia plugs in to electric vehicles  

The Automotive Australia 2020 roadmap project have now released their final report into the future of the Australian carmaking industry - the report can be downloaded from here (PDF).

The SMH has an article on the report - Australia plugs in to electric vehicle charge.

A new roadmap for the future of the Australian automotive industry predicts the country could become a global player in EV development.

Australia could become a global centre of excellence for electric and hybrid vehicles under a long-term plan for the local automotive industry.

Automotive Australia 2020 - A Technological Roadmap - recommends 32 measures designed to secure the future of an industry that employs more than 50,000 people and contributes more than $3billion annually in exports.

They include a scheme to tap into the growing global electric vehicle (EV) market as leading car makers rush to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Among the priorities are development for both domestic and export markets of supercapacitors (an in-car energy storage unit), as well as electronics modules, more efficient and lightweight batteries, electric motors, battery packs and a modular platform (underpinning) to spin off numerous EVs.

Other opportunities identified include:

* Developing dedicated direct injection systems for use with liquified petroleum gas (LPG) engines.

* An onboard storage solution for compressed natural gas (CNG), of which Australia has vast reserves.

* Developing lightweight and strong components, body panels and wheels to replace heavier steel parts.

* Building advanced in-car communication devices including next-generation navigation systems, real-time traffic information and dynamic speed limit updates.

The plan was jointly sponsored by the federal and Victorian state governments and developed by a working group comprising 160 organisations including local manufacturers Ford, Holden and Toyota, parts manufacturers, leading universities and federal and state government departments.

The report says Australia's automotive industry needs to be recognised internationally for its innovation to attract global companies and their investors.

''The industry must be bigger, more productive and provide more jobs in the manufacturing and supply sectors. This can be achieved through leveraging existing strengths and building new capabilities,'' it says. ...

Beyond 2020, the roadmap predicts a greater economic focus on energy storage and distributed energy generation, plus the development of a zero-emission and fatality-free transport system via intelligent roads and vehicles.