The Canberra branch of the AEVA conducts regular monthly meetings, usually on the first Monday evening of each month.

We normally have a fixed agenda plus discussions. The discussions are positive and vibrant. Good things come from them, like the festival. You are welcome to come along and contribute!

Some regular attendees have experinence in converting their own vehicles and are happy to help others. Some are more interested in public policy and promoting EVs. Still others are interested in the technological aspects of EVs. Most are interested in all aspects of EVs. All welcome.

Next Meeting

Monday, 1 March. 7:30 pm

Agenda

Agenda items. Although not finalised, they will be something like the following:

1. Apologies and Welcome to new members.
2. Speaker:
   LARS-CHRISTIAN SØRENSEN
   SENIOR COMMERCIAL ADVISOR / DANISH EMBASSY CANBERRA
   Danish experiences of electric transport


3. Open Day Planning  18th September 2010
4. Matters Arising
        Racing car -Peter W
        Public lecture series -David J
        MTA (Motor Trades Association) -Mark H
        Electric buses for Actions -David J
5. Policy Discussion  - Ben M
   

   1. Canberra EV policy document
   2. National policy
   3. Model for upcoming submissions
   

6. DIY Library  
   Generators and EVs  - finalise summary paper  (attachment sent separately)
   Motors - starting discussion Arthur D
   
7. Members projects  Paul W
   
8. Any other business.
9. Close of meeting.

Where

The meeting will be held in the "Downstairs Studio" (ground floor) of the Ian Ross Building, North Road, ANU campus.

Enter via the door under the bridge which connects the Ian Ross Building to Engineering Building 32. This is adjacent to where ANZSES meets. The following photo shows the main entrance. You enter to the left of this.  NOTE Feb 01:  Because of building construction temporarily you may need to walk to the right around the back of the building



Addendum  From Ben Mettes

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Canberra EV policy document

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I'm always keen to have Policy Committee meetings in between Canberra EV meetings, to discuss the policy document and to try and find more acceptable compromise wording. Ultimately, it comes down to a vote at a Canberra EV meeting.
The idea is not to overwhelm the Canberra EV meetings with policy debate. The policy document can help avoid that we have to read out several proposals, debate them and then ask the meeting to vote for one or the other, possibly with lengthy debate and amendments that have to be made on the fly. Of course, Canberra EV can decide to debate and vote on any policy position and issue a paper at any time, but the idea is that the Policy Committee does as much work as possible in advance.
Anyone can thus produce a private submission, statement, article, or Letter to the Editor, while referring to the policy document if that can support one's argument. This means one does not have to bother the general meeting every time and asks for a position. This is also handy if there's no time (or interest) for the matter to first be presented for a vote at a meeting.
The policy document could be updated since it was last voted on, to call for: - accommodation of e-bikes with over 200 watt motors.  -a cross-government EV committee, and an EV policy unit within the PM Department (David proposed this in his private budget submission)  - introduction of sufficiently smart meters to facilitate V2G (EVs feeding electricity into the grid)

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National policy

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What can complicate things is possible incompatibilities between the position of Canberra EV and the AEVA. As I recall, the AEVA AGM decided that the AEVA should develop - within six months - a national policy, using Canberra's policy document as a basis to work from. This means that the national policy should be completed by 3 April 2010. The upcoming Canberra EV meeting is on 1 March, while the next following meeting will be on 5 April. This means that we only have the upcoming 1 March meeting to discuss things and decide what to do. Does anyone have access to the AEVA constitution and the AEVA AGM notes to check what we should do now?

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Model for upcoming submissions

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What can further complicate things is that there may be issues that are not specifically addressed in the policy document. Public consultation on Feed-in Tariff Stage 2 consultation closes on 28 February 2010, so there is no time to seek a vote of the Canberra EV meeting, even if one wanted that. Last Sunday, Arthur, Peter and I had a policy committee meeting to discuss what to do - Peter suggested that, in this case, we were not in a position to issue a formal Canberra EV submission and that those who wanted to should therefore make private submissions, which could be accompanied by signatures of everyone who supported this.

The question is whether to use this model (i.e. making private submissions accompanied by signatures of supporters) for further future submissions as well, such as the Electricity Feed-in Premium Rate Determination, the Sustainable Energy Policy 2010–2020, and the Greater Canberra City Area Coordinated Action Plan 2010 - 2016. Submissions for each of these are due in March. So, if there is to be one or more submissions by Canberra EV, this will have to be decided the policy document where applicable.

View Canberra EV Meeting Place in a larger map

Parking

Parking is available south-west of the meeting location.  Continue further south along North Road.