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the australian farmer
competitive, sustainable, and vital in the global marketplace.
distributed, and now the govern- ment and private sector need to invest in new technologies to sup- port Australian farmers on the road to Net Zero. Australia has a small taxpayer base, which limits our ability to invest in many new opportunities, so we need to be selective. One opportunity worth considering is Australia’s potential to become a biofuels powerhouse. Farm- ers around the country can grow crops like sunflowers and canola for biofuel production. And farm- ers in Queensland, who produce 95% of the country’s sugarcane, can position Australia as a major bioethanol exporter, helping to di- versify, and generate new income streams. Australia stands at a critical juncture. The energy transition provides an opportunity to de- velop our competitive advantage as a country to decarbonize while remaining prosperous. Farmers can play a crucial role by adopting new technologies that not only re- duce emissions but can increase productivity and profitability. The government needs to play its part by adopting a razor-sharp targeted approach in investigating and in- vesting in alternative technologies, such as biofuels. This will empower Australian farmers to continue producing the nation’s food and fibre; simultaneously contribute to achieving climate goals, whilst potentially developing additional value-added revenue and income streams. In this way, the Australian farming community will remain
available in the SUV range and soon making its way into utes is Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) technology. PHEVs offer a hybrid solution — an electric battery for short trips and an onboard generator for longer journeys, like camping adventures, family holidays interstate, and trips in rural areas where charging infrastructure is severely lacking. Put bluntly, there are not enough chargers, they are not where they should be, and they are frequently unreliable. Australia only has around 2,000 public EV chargers, mostly concentrated in capital cities, making PHEVs a practical solution with ranges up to 100 kilometres on electric power, plus a petrol engine for backup. PHEVs also feature bi-direc- tional charging, which unlocks new possibilities for farms. PHEVs can serve as generators, producing electricity by charging the battery with regenerative braking, elec- tricity or fuel — a full tank can re- charge the battery up to six times. With bi-directional charging, it's possible to use solar power during the day to charge the vehicle, then use the excess power stored in the battery to electrify the home in the evening. This not only eliminates petrol costs but also reduces home energy bills. For farmers, integrating auto- mation and renewable tech- nologies can lower costs, boost productivity, and reduce carbon emissions, paving the way for a more sustainable agricultural in- dustry in Australia. The future is already here — it’s just unevenly
Shaun Westcott Shaun Westcott is former President and Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited and former Deputy Chairman of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
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