Two Kia EV5 electric SUVs have arrived in Coonamble as part of a regional trial aimed at reducing carbon emissions in outback New South Wales.
The trial, led by the Far North West Joint Organisation (FNWJO), officially launched on 18 June. Council staff in Coonamble will test the electric vehicles for three weeks before the trial moves to Walgett, Bourke, and then Cobar.
The project received $15,000 in funding from the NSW Government’s Joint Organisations’ Net Zero Acceleration program. The vehicles are being leased through Origin 360.
FNWJO chair and Cobar mayor Jarrod Marsden said electric vehicles (EVs) are common in cities, but have yet to be properly tested in remote and regional areas.
“We’re going to do this trial and see whether electric vehicles are practical and cost-effective for council use in the bush,” Marsden said.
The Kia EV5s are rated to travel up to 550 kilometres on a single charge. Local leaders hope the vehicles will prove not only reliable but also more affordable when it comes to fuel and maintenance.
Coonamble mayor Dan Keady welcomed the trial but expressed some caution.
“The practicality of it I’m not so sure about, but we might be surprised,” he said.
“We’ll be looking at how far they go, how easy they are to charge, and how long charging takes.”
The Coonamble Shire Council voted on 17 June to become an associate member of the FNWJO, allowing it to join in on the group’s pilot projects. It is now working toward full membership.
Joint Organisations (JOs) were created in 2018 to unite regional councils and deliver shared local priorities. There are currently 13 JOs operating across NSW.
