The Victoria government is supporting a Melbourne company specialising in autonomous electric vehicles to develop world-first technology that can be configured for multiple uses – driving the future of mobility.
The government has provided support to the company towards its new $2 million facilities in Bayswater North, which will accommodate research and development as well as early vehicle production and is expected to create more than 20 highly skilled jobs over two years.
The latest vehicle to be produced by the firm is Blanc Robot – a sophisticated autonomous-ready electric vehicle platform that can be integrated with different vehicle bodies and configured for a range of uses.
The company has developed a sophisticated “plug and play” software and an electrical system called the Digital Backbone that powers the Blanc Robot platform. With a range of charging options, the Blanc Robot provides flexible and energy-efficient transport that is safe, low cost and has zero emissions.
Blanc Robot is designed to service goods delivery, agriculture, mining and industrial and waste management, as well as passenger transport, and will be trialled by major international industry players this year.
Established in 2015 by executives who built their careers at major automobile companies, the firm has grown on the back of strong global demand for its technology and driven by a workforce sourced from Victoria’s extensive talent pool in advanced manufacturing, design and engineering.
Victoria has backed its highly skilled manufacturing workforce by creating more than 1,000 new job opportunities for automotive sector employees under the Labor Government’s Local Industry Fund for Transition program. The support for the company extends the government’s investment in the autonomous and electric vehicle industry.
The government partnered with a French-based public transport firm in 2019 to develop the first locally-built, fully electric bus with body construction and fit-out carried out by a Dandenong-based company.
The Minister for Industry Support and Recovery stated that the future of travel and transport will be autonomous, electric and connected, and Victorian companies are leading the way. He noted that the innovators like EV company are building on expertise gained from traditional manufacturing with advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence to produce revolutionary solutions for now and the future.
The Chief Executive of the Melbourne company stated that they welcome the support from the Victorian Government, which helps take their Melbourne-made mobility solutions to the global market – offering a product that is cost-effective, adaptable to business needs and good for the environment.
Recent research found that the global electric vehicle market size is projected to grow from 4,093 thousand units in 2021 to 34,756 thousand units by 2030, at a CAGR of 26.8%. Factors such as growing demand for low emission commuting and governments supporting long-range, zero-emission vehicles through subsidies and tax rebates have compelled the manufacturers to provide electric vehicles around the world. This has led to a growing demand for electric vehicles in the market. Countries around the world have set up targets for emission reductions according to their own capacity.
Increasing investments by governments across the globe to develop EV charging stations and Hydrogen fuelling stations along with incentives offered to buyers will create opportunities for OEMs to expand their revenue stream and geographical presence.
