Group buying could be key to NFP electric car uptake

The not for profit sector should be partnering with state governments to encourage electric vehicle take-up, according to a report from the Institute of Community Directors Australia. 

The not for profit sector has an appetite for electric and hybrid cars (EVs) but cost, funding and charging sites are current barriers to transitioning to a greener fleet, according to a survey by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA).

The Institute was founded in 2014 to offer research and resources to not for profit boards across Australia.

Of its 570 not for profit members surveyed, 57 per cent own or lease at least one car from a total of 1,406 cars. Another 78 per cent respondents expect to buy or lease a new vehicle in the next three years (36 per cent in the next year). 

This, says general manager of IDCA Adele Stowe-Lindner, is an opportunity.

“As many state governments transition to EV fleets, there may be an opportunity for not for profits to use the power of government’s group buying,” she said.

“Group buying is something that is potentially really powerful.

“The not for profit community is a great place to start because there are a lot of individuals keen to make an impact.

“Some barriers are lifting – we’re seeing more cars come on the market; more cars will have longer range; cars that are not so expensive; the charging network is improving daily and because of that the next few years will be crucial.”

The Greening the Not for Profit Sector report asked respondents questions about fleet size, whether directors leased or owned and how long they held onto their vehicles as well as whether they would buy an EV or had one currently.

The report shows the top five barriers to transitioning fleets to EV are the cost or lack of funding, lack of public infrastructure, lack of knowledge, lack of (suitable) cars and lack of sites for a charger.   

The report comes ahead of a new website being launched by the group next week to help not for profits transitioning to solar and EV technology.

“We are doing the research for the not for profit sector to come up with a list of innovative ways to transition to green power,” she said.

“Grants and subsidies are always a great way to facilitate change and are also always welcome,” she said.

 Stowe-Lindner said on average not for profits spend about $10,000 a year on electricity and $3,700 on gas. 

“What we are doing at the moment is creating a list of options to help the Australian not for profit community with resources and research, which is what we do,” she said

“Our mission is to support the not for profit sector. We know this sector is values-driven and resource poor.

“Climate change is increasingly becoming a key governance issue for not for profits because it is affecting their beneficiaries, their ability to raise funds and in many cases, the conditions they are working in.

“Grants and subsidies are always very welcome. In the meantime, we’d urge not for profit organisations to audit their current vehicle usage, to think about how many kilometres they drive, where their vehicles could be charged, and to assess whether their fleet size is right-sized currently, and to start preparing for next steps.”