Such skilled workers are required to install the charging stations and smart meters necessary for EVs in both private homes and strata buildings. Skilled EV savvy lawyers are needed to ensure that such installations are covered by effective by-laws. We hope these school students will go on to emulate the remarkable feats of University of NSW and Western Sydney University students in competing on the world solar car stage. Both compete in the Darwin to Adelaide race and, in July this year, the WSU student-built car won the American Solar Challenge. They were the first international and first Australian solar car team to win the competition. The team won an impressive four out of five stages of the gruelling 2800km Challenge, a global race that sees international university competitors travel across four American states from Nebraska to Oregon.

The WSU team is comprised of students from the fields of engineering, ICT, industrial design and visual communications. They manage every aspect of the production and design of the vehicle as well as sponsorships, marketing and the administrative elements of their involvement in challenges.

Thanks to Rick Barnyard of the Portside Local for making me aware that a Swedish EV startup has announced plans to begin making their two-seater battery-electric Uniti One in Australia in Adelaide in 2020 with an annual production target of 10,000 units selling at about $20,000. I fully support Rick’s throwaway line that our city leaders should seek to have the factory here in Newcastle, where we are growing the workforce.