Background It has predicted that Electric Vehicles (EV’s) will cause major disruption to organisations and community through the changing nature of activities associated with transport and mobility. Electric vehicles (EV’s) along with other alternative fuel source vehicles such as hydrogen are attracting immense interest worldwide as a solution to mobility and transport issues, environmental concerns as a result of fuel emissions, and fossil fuel shortage in accordance with peak oil predictions. Norway currently leads the world on the adoption of EV and hybrid vehicles with new vehicle sales demonstrating that more than 50% of sales were EV’s and hybrid vehicles. In comparison, new vehicle sales figures in Australia show that EV’s and hybrids comprise just 0.1% of new vehicle sales. Given recent announcements of major vehicle manufacturers to cease production of internal combustion engines in favour of fully electric or hybrid vehicles, consumers and organisational fleets will be faced with no choice but to phase out internal combustion engines. For example, Volvo have already announced ceasing internal combustion engine production in 2019, Jaguar Rover by 2020. Other manufacturers such as BMW and General Motors, have announced plans to phase out internal combustion engines and substantially increase production of electric and hybrid vehicles across the whole fleet. In addition to the vehicle manufacturers, various countries around the world such as Britain, France, India, Norway are implementing plans and strategies to end the sale or manufacture of internal combustion engines over the next few decades with some as early as 2025. However, despite the immense benefits to society and the environment of EV’s, there are a number of unique challenges associated with this type of transport mode. Given that travel is a large component of everyday activities, these challenges if not adequately addressed will cause significant disruption and impact to many aspects of our lives. It should also be noted that this impact will occur sooner than later if the strategic direction of vehicle manufacturers continues as planned. Therefore, organisational psychologists are well positioned to assist organisations and the community in readiness of change in transport and mobility.

Aims/Objectives The aim and objective of this presentation is to provide an overview of previous research highlighting the challenges of integrating EV’s into organisations, community sectors transport and mobility. A further aim is to outline the results of recent preliminary research investigating the strategies and interventions implemented in response to EV integration.

Method Relevant literature reviewed highlighted challenges such as; range anxiety and the impact on work and mobility processes, lack of charging infrastructure, increased safety concerns, economic demands, and impact of change.

Range anxiety has been identified as a result of electric vehicle battery range limitations and a lack of charging infrastructure, particularly in regional and remote areas of Australia. Electric vehicle charging range limitations also has significant implications to the manner in which transport is viewed and utilised. These limitations will result in changes required to work schedules and transport planning which has ramifications for employees, family, work and travel schedules.

Research has also identified safety implications associated with increased numbers of electric and hybrid vehicles. In particular, the implications associated with quieter engines on the safety of pedestrians and the visually impaired. For instance, visually impaired people often rely on hearing an approaching vehicle to determine the proximity and direction of vehicle travel. Quieter vehicles make this extremely difficult.

The demise of internal combustion engines will have significant impact on household and organisational economies resulting from decreased values and consumer demands of internal combustion engine vehicles. Further economic impact implication could be as a result of increased fuel supply costs due to less consumer demand for fuel and internal combustion engine vehicles. It is also suggested that any environmental benefits associated with EV’s may be initially offset by the subsequent disposal of worthless internal combustion engines.

Stakeholder interviews not only revealed initiatives such as charging infrastructure and change management strategies and processes, but also highlighted concerns about a distinctly laissez-fair approach and the implications within the organisational context if not addressed.

Conclusion A number of directions for future research will be provided along with identifying the implications for organisational psychologists in developing processes to facilitate the integration of EV’s into organisations and the general transport community.
Results suggest that within the organisational context change management processes will be required to be developed to facilitate organisations and employees in developing new work processes to accommodate the integration and limitations real or perceived regarding EV transport.