This is Electric
This is Electric is a new Tasmanian based electrical company, founded by Sarah Bury and Phil O’Neill to tackle climate change and improve affordability and accessibility of electric charging infrastructure.
This new innovative business supports communities, businesses and homes transition to clean energy and get off gas and fossil fuels.
Sarah Bury spoke with Jack Redpath, Principal at Carbon Zero Initiative about what they’re up to.
“It is still early days, Sarah said, “but as a social enterprise, we want the transition to clean energy to not only be rapid, but also fair and equitable, with benefits shared locally in our communities.”
Electric vehicles
“Along with social justice and accessibility of clean energy technology, we’re really interested in how we can support electrification of the transport sector. This will play a key role in Tasmania’s collective transition away from fossil fuels.”
“Without intervention, the transport sector is projected to be Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030.”
“Transport accounts for 21% of Tasmania’s total emissions, 1.74 million tonnes of CO2-e, 3.3 tonnes per Tasmanian.”
“Luckily, sales of EVs are growing rapidly. The percentage of EV sales increased by around 200% last year and EVs are currently around 9% of new car registrations in Australia.”
“Some countries are doing even better than us, with the Netherlands and New Zealand approaching 40% of new car registrations and Norway up to 90% in 2023.”
Fast, Fair and Sustainable
“However, as a social enterprise, we believe that the transition to electric transport and renewable energy must be fair, equitable, inclusive and sustainable, not just rapid.”
“Barriers preventing equitable access to clean energy technology slow down our local and global efforts to reduce emissions.”
EV affordability
“The affordability of EVs is slowly improving and being addressed by a range of people, including our friends at the Good Car Co, and also now more affordable electric cars entering the market.”
“There are also great people working on fuel efficiency standards at a policy level, which will encourage a more diverse range of car manufacturers to enter the Australian market.”
“The flow on effect of these changes will mean a healthy second hand EV market, which will increase affordability and accessibility.”
Charging infrastructure
“Studies show that one of the main reasons people are hesitant about buying an EV is the distance between, or lack of public or workplace charging infrastructure.”
“We’ve even noticed that people with an EV will preference a petrol or diesel vehicle for longer trips around Tassie, because there just isn’t any charging infrastructure in most of Tasmania’s small towns.”
“Where there is EV uptake in communities across the world, there has been a corresponding increase in commercial investment in charging infrastructure.”
“It makes sense that so far this investment has generally been in larger cities, central business areas and along our busy highways - where EVs are most common.”
“But it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation.”
“If people are choosing not to buy an EV because of insufficient charging infrastructure, what can we do to address that barrier for them? And as quickly and fairly as possible?“
Enter, This is Electric
“We think that addressing the lack of charging infrastructure will help to rapidly decarbonise our transport sector, and enable more widespread uptake and usage of EVs in our communities.”
“Our vision is an extensive network of simple, reliable, affordable and accessible public chargers in all our local communities, even the remote and regional ones.”
“This is Electric brings a combination of experience installing physical electric charging infrastructure, and community engagement and education.”
“We plan to partner with local communities to roll out the charging infrastructure where and when it is needed.”
Supporting local businesses and the tourism industry.
“Small businesses, workplaces and communities can play a vital role in the rollout of charging infrastructure in our rural and regional communities and towns.“
“We are partnering with small, locally owned hotels, schools and businesses to support more electric transport around Tasmania.”
“If this network exists, public charging options will be everywhere and EV owners will no longer need to worry about range capacity.”
“Finally, we hope that anyone who is hesitant can finally take the plunge and start driving carbon free.”
Sign up to our mailing list on our website to hear more about the project.
Or get in touch if you know a business who might be interested in partnering with us on this project.
Sarah Bury
Founding Director
This is Electric
