Eldritch kcarruthers8h ago
B-doubling down on electric trucks: The EV revolution is moving on from light to heavy vehicles, and doing so at an astonishing pace - overseas usage & current trials in Australia show they far outperform diesel on both overall cost & efficiency. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2026/04/11/b-doubling-down-electric-trucks
B-doubling down on electric trucks

Bridget McKenzie, the National Party’s leader in the Senate, was contemptuous. During an urgency motion on March 30 about the government’s response to the global fuel crisis, she fired up over suggestions that Australia should look at electrifying the country’s heavy vehicle fleet. “To hear the ridiculous contributions from the Labor Party senators, who somehow think you can hook up a B-double full of cattle, coming down from Rockhampton to Brisbane, and actually use an electric truck? Seriously?”

The Saturday Paper
Show threadJW7h ago

@kcarruthers
The technology now exists to rapidly electrify all land transport. Government's key role is to support role out of heavy vehicle, and rural and regional charging infrastructure.

Key side effects of this approach not only include reduced dependency on an imported commodity, but also a reduction in shipping emissions (less shipping of oil), and increased productivity (in the transport sector).

Show threadgusseting5h ago

@jwi @kcarruthers
Is the issue that the technology doesn't exist?
Or is the issue that fossil fuelled billionaires and the subsidies to them via the Australian government exist, and there's no sign of either changing?

Bloomberg: A country fueled by subsized diesel is running dry:

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-03-25/iran-war-a-country-fueled-by-subsidized-diesel-is-running-dry?srnd=undefined

archive: https://archive.md/ORsCL

Show threadJW5h ago

@gusseting @kcarruthers
Subsidised fossil fuels is an issue. But, in last few years we have hit a point where electric trucks, buses and cars are on a total cost of ownership are cheaper than fossil fuel cars. The stumbling blocks include disinformation from the fossil fuel industry, and lack of heavy vehicle charging infrastructure.

However, I think it might be a while before truck charging facilities will be readily available in remote locations.

Show threadgusseting5h ago
@jwi @kcarruthers
You're not answering the question:
Is the issue that fossil fuelled billionaires and the subsidies to them via the Australian government exist, and there's no sign of either changing? <--yes, that is the issue, and here is the information that backs that up from bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-03-25/iran-war-a-country-fueled-by-subsidized-diesel-is-running-dry?srnd=undefined
Show threadJW5h ago
@gusseting @kcarruthers
Definitely for cars. For heavy vehicles, not so much. Upto the last few years its been technology, product availability, and raw economics. Trump and Netanyahu will probably accelerate the change and counter misinformation.
Show threadgusseting
@jwi @kcarruthers Oh?
What % of cars on Australian roads are electric?
7:14amWeb
Show threadJW5h ago
@gusseting @kcarruthers
I think its 1-3%. The prior government discouraged electric cars. The current government made some small policy changes and lifted the % of new sales from 2-5% to around 10% in about 12 months. Trump and Netanyahu have boosted this to about 15%, the real question is will it be sustainable.
Show threadgusseting4h ago
@jwi @kcarruthers
So, in summary, Australia is a petrostate which is not changing. There may be electrified icing for those who are rich and white enough to afford it, but it's a fossil fuelled cake.
Australian Government: Let them eat cake.
Australian energy consumption:
Show threadJW4h ago
@gusseting @kcarruthers
Yep. That's what happens after 10ys if a climate denying government. Strangely, on the other hand Australia has an extremely high take up of roof top solar.
Show threadgusseting4h ago
@jwi @kcarruthers In case you hadn't noticed, Australia still has a climate denying government.
They've approved and enabled fossil fuels. They have not approved and enabled renewables.
Show threadgusseting4h ago

RE: https://mastodon.social/@gusseting/116384914471772450

@jwi @kcarruthers
Here is your wealth of solar/renewables for rich, white people in comparison to fossil fuels.
Thankyou for the conversation, however, I'm done here.