better place

Better Place Australia was proud to be the event partner of the annual Australasian Fleet Management Association’s (AfMA) National Fleet Conference and Exhibition. The event, regarded as one of the most valuable in the fleet industry’s calendar, was held over two days at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne on the 20th and 21st March 2012. Better Place Australia CEO, Evan Thornley delivered the opening address. 400 delegates attended over the two days and the conference program covered a wide range of topics from safety, planning, reducing fleet emissions, digital selling and remarketing, through to legislation changes and improving driver behaviour.

The exhibition area was turned into an electric car showcase with the Renault Fluence Z.E., the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV on display. EV Engineering’s electric Holden Commodore also made its debut at AfMA. The proof-of-concept vehicle is the first of seven prototypes being built by EV Engineering in Melbourne. 

Better Place Australia was named the 2011 winner of the Transportation Award - Mindful Movement category at the prestigious Banksia Environmental Awards. Announced at the Banksia Award in Sydney on Friday 28 October 2011, the award recognised Better Place Australia for its demonstrated leadership and innovative approach to sustainable transport.

Better Place Australia announced the first exclusive group of leading organisations who will support the initial roll-out of its electric car charge network in Canberra. The 12 Canberra Charge Network Foundation Members are: the ACT Government, the ACT Electric Vehicle Council, ActewAGL, Canberra Airport, Capital Hotel Group, CIC Australia, Crowne Plaza, Hindmarsh, Lend Lease, the National Convention Centre, Rock Development Group, and TransACT. Public access charge spots will be installed at prominent locations operated by these members.

Better Place, GE and Renault Australia joined together at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) with a series of announcements that demonstrate a strategic move to make electric cars a mass market reality for all Australians and help address the nation’s sustainable transport challenge. GE announced its intention to purchase at least 1000 electric vehicles in Australia by 2015, as part of its global commitment in November 2010 to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles worldwide. At the same time, Renault unveiled the first battery –switchable Fluence Z.E. ever to be seen in Australia. 

Australia is huge, wide open, and has 15 million cars on the road. It’s a perfect place to prove our concept. So we forged deals with the nation’s AGL Energy and financial advisor Macquarie Capital Group to begin deploying the Better Place model down under.