Powering ahead with first electric vehicles

St John WA (SJWA) is continuing its journey towards a more sustainable fleet, with the launch of five new electric vehicles (EVs) now hitting the road.

The rollout includes three Community Transport Vehicles, a fleet car and an operational logistics vehicle.

To support the transition, four charging stations have been installed at key sites – two 120kW chargers at Central Hub, one 120kW charger at Wangara and a 60kW charger at Head Office.

The EVs replace older petrol and diesel vehicles that had reached the end of their service life. Each will stay in operation for a full five-year cycle, with the potential to expand the program further.

Community Transport Services (CTS) volunteers are looking forward to the change.

“I can’t wait to see how the EVs compare to our current vehicles,” CTS volunteer Mei-jhen Shen said.

“They’re smooth and quiet, and I think passengers will find the trips even more comfortable.”

Another volunteer Dale Kirgan said the new vehicles will be a point of pride for the service.

“It feels good knowing we’ll be helping the environment while helping people in the community. I think people will be curious when they see these cars on the road.” Dale said.

The introduction of EVs forms part of a two-year trial, aligned with SJWA’s Towards 2040 Net Zero Plan, which sets a pathway for reducing the organisation’s carbon footprint.

The project was supported by a $130,000 Charge Up EV Charging Grant from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).

Former Business Manager for the Emergency Stream and long-standing Event Health Services volunteer, Ace Choo, successfully applied for the grant and also authored the Towards 2040 Net Zero Plan that underpins this transition.

Group CEO Kevin Brown said the EV launch is a practical step in preparing for the future.

“This is about trialling electric vehicles in everyday operations and learning how they perform. By testing them now, we can build a fleet that is both sustainable and reliable for the community.”