As part of an effort to move to net zero by 2050, the New South Wales (NSW) government is funding nearly 700 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the largest single rollout in Australia.
And the need, it seems, is largely fuelled by demand.
According to the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, sales of electric cars have increased year-on-year, from zero purchases in 2013 to 8.3 percent of car sales in 2023.
New EV purchases in Australia more than doubled in 2023, compared to 2022, with the total number of EVs on Australian roads now exceeding 180,000, and market growth is expected to double annually.
The NSW government’s latest project involves the installation of 671 charging stations at 391 sites, costing $4.1 million (US$2.7 million) and matched by $8 million in private investment.
It is a move the NSW government says it hopes will encourage motorists to purchase electric vehicles.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said more grants would be awarded to the roll-out of charging ports to keep encouraging EV use.
“This investment will significantly increase the availability of public charging options and give people confidence their next vehicle purchase can be an EV,” she said.
“Almost 30 percent of NSW drivers do not have access to private, off-street parking to charge an EV. That figure is considerably higher in metro areas.
“We will continue to roll out EV charging grants to further support the NSW goal of being the easiest place in Australia to own and drive an electric vehicle.”
The kerbside chargers, ranging from 7 kilowatts to 75 kilowatts, will be installed across 16 local government areas by eight grant recipients.
The funding is for pole-mounted, pedestal, and ‘kiosk’ EV chargers.
They will be installed on kerbsides or in public council car parks, with the rollout expected to be completed during the next 12 months.
The NSW government says the spend is part of an overall $209 million move towards significant charging infrastructure in the state. This includes $149 million for fast chargers to top up EV batteries, $20 million in grants to install chargers in regional tourist areas, and $10 million to retrofit EV chargers in suitable apartment buildings.
EV Council Chief Executive Officer Behyad Jafari said the charging ports would be useful to many people, including those who do not have charging facilities at home.
EV Ownership Skyrocketing in Australia
NSW shadow minister for energy and climate change James Griffin said he welcomed the move but criticised Labor’s discontinuation of the $3,000 EV rebate program.“EV ownership is skyrocketing and to ensure this continues it will be important to build the charging infrastructure,” he told the Epoch Times.
“Unfortunately, the NSW Labor government discontinued the EV rebate program but hopefully costs will continue to come down as more cars enter the market.”
Mr. Griffin said he recommended drivers purchase EVs because of cheaper running costs.
“The potential cost savings for the average household can be significant and EV’s are well worth considering if you are in the market for a car,” he said.
“As an EV owner myself, I know how important the charging infrastructure is, and we need to ensure that the government now make good on their promise and install these charging stations.”
The average price of an EV in Australia is $60-90,000, with some models around $40,000.
