Purchasing an electric vehicle could now be a more affordable possibility, with a bulk-buy open for communities across the region.
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You may have seen more electric vehicles zipping through Hepburn Shire during the last couple of weeks and can expect to see them in coming weeks too, as electric vehicle test-driving continues to be conducted.
As part of an effort to reduce transport-related emissions in the region, the bulk-buy is being undertaken through a partnership between Hepburn Wind and the Good Car Company.
The bulk-buy was devised as part of the shire's Z-NET community transition plan to reach zero-net emissions by 2030. With transport responsible for 33 per cent of the shire's emissions in 2018, reducing transport emissions is a key part of the plan.
While many people feel as though electric vehicles are not currently accessible due to the price point, the bulk-buy aims to provide them at a more affordable price.
The company, which has conducted three successful bulk-buys in Tasmania, sources pre-owned Nissan vehicles at auction in Japan.
If they pass a series of tests, particularly battery diagnostics, they are bought in bulk and transported to Australia, with supply chain savings passed on to the new owner.
The company is currently running a four-week program in the region. It aims to educate participants about electric vehicle ownership, offers 45-minute COVID-safe test drives across different terrains and virtual meets each week to grow the local electric vehicle community and share knowledge.
And with so much interest from neighbouring areas, in addition to residents of Hepburn Shire and members of Hepburn Wind, the program was recently expanded to residents of surrounding areas including Ballarat, Mount Alexander, Macedon Ranges, Central Goldfields, Pyrenees and Moorabool.
More than 220 people have already registered their interest in being a part of the bulk buy, and the company is encouraging others to register their interest too.
With lower vehicle costs and less maintenance, Good Car Co-Founder, Anton Vikstrom, encouraged anybody interested to register and take a car for a test drive, to demystify the process of purchasing an electric vehicle.
"We are trying to make it possible for people to decarbonize their lifestyles by providing affordable, electric vehicles," he said.
The company offers a range of late model Nissan leaf cars with a range from 120-350-kilometres for each charge. A short range eNV200 commercial van is also available.
Prices range from around $20,000 to more, depending on the range a person requires - whether they are looking for a car to take short trips around town or a car to commute to Melbourne in each day.
For every vehicle purchased through the bulk buy, The Good Car Company will donate $500 to deploy more public charging infrastructure in Hepburn, adding to a pool of funds created by Hepburn Wind and Hepburn Shire Council.
"We've got twin barriers to the uptake of EVs - one of them is price and the other one's charging infrastructure and through the bulk buy we get to tackle both of those," Mr Vikstrom said.
We've got twin barriers to the uptake of EVs - one of them is price and the other one's charging infrastructure and through the bulk buy we get to tackle both of those.
- Anton Vikstrom
Hepburn Wind's General Manager, Taryn Lane, said affordability and access were the key barriers to electric vehicle uptake, which was "pivotal" to reduce emissions in the shire.
"We want to ensure more people can make the transition to EVs and are excited to partner with the Good Car Company to create a pathway for zero-emissions travel."
Alongside a transition to electric vehicles, Ms Lane added that supporting more people to use bicycles and electric bikes would also reduce emissions.
Related coverage: Call to make Hepburn shire more bike-friendly
The company hopes to close the bulk-buy on December 4, so everyone's cars can be purchased before Christmas. Though they believe that they will most likely return.
Test drives will be available from Trentham and Creswick markets this Saturday, November 21.
To register for the Community Bulk Buy and learn more, visit: www.goodcar.co/hepburn-wind
