ACT Hybrid Vehicle Authority

The Australian Capital Territory Hybrid Vehicle Authority (HVA) is a government agency serving the Australian Capital Territory. Established on 1 July, 2006, the HVA is responsible for developing strategies to increase the use of hybrid electric vehicles by government departments in the territory.

The authority's launch was attended by territory chief minister Jon Stanhope and Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe. Watanabe marked the occasion by donating two of his company's iconic Prius sedans to the HVA. Stanhope told attendees that the authority would "consolidate the ACT's position as a leader on climate change." [Citation
last = Kiernan
first = Andrew
title = Stanhope backs hybrids for territory fleet
journal = The Canberra Times
pages = 4
date = 2006-07-01 ] The HVA is a unit within the Department of Territory and Municipal Services reporting to TAMS minister John Hargraves and environment minister Jon Stanhope. It aims to replace all territory government vehicles, excepting emergency services and buses, with hybrid-electric vehicles by 2020.

Controversy

The authority's critics have noted that, given that hybrids are more expensive than traditional petrol-driven cars, the HVA will be responsible for a cost blowout for the government car fleet. [Citation
last = Hennan
first = Natalia
title = Show us the money: MPs quiz HVA on funding
journal = The Canberra Times
pages = 18
date = 2007-03-11 ] Significantly, the HVA is not required to fund the purchase of vehicles, merely to provide advice and support. [Citation
title = Hybrid Vehicles Authority - What We Do
url= http://www.tams.act.gov.au/functions/about_our_department/tams_media_releases ]

To date, the HVA has overseen the purchase of 88 hybrid vehicles for territory agencies, primarily for social services and public-service executives. [Citation
title = Hybrid Vehicles Authority - 88 ways we're helping the environment
url= http://www.tams.act.gov.au/functions/about_our_department/tams_media_releases ] This achievement has been overshadowed by accusations by environmentalist groups that the HVA is "greenwash". The ACT Greens' Kerrie Tucker slammed the authority's limited remit: "What Mr Stanhope needs to realise is that greenhouse gases come from all vehicles, not just government sedans," she said. [Citation
title = Greens demand hyrbid initative go further
journal = ACT Greens
date = 2007-10-27
url =http://greens.org.au/election/media.php ]

Notes and references