Western Australia Government Spends $12.5 Million on New EV Chargers

An EV charging car space in Calamvale of Brisbane, Australia, on Jan. 29, 2023. Daniel Teng/The Epoch Times

The Australian state of Western Australia (WA) is allocating $12.5 million (US$8.1 million) of taxpayer funds for new electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Electric vehicles currently make up about 6.4 percent of new car sales in the state, figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reveal.

WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston launched round two of the Government’s ‘Charge Up Workplace Grants program’ at an EV Expo in Perth.

The government, via the grants, is aiming to increase daytime EV charging, promote off-peak charging, and support conversion to EV fleet. With time, the government is hoping to stimulate the second-hand EV market.

The millions of dollars of funding in round two is part of a $60 million government allocation to increase EV uptake in Western Australia.

A Tesla Model Y charges at a EV charge station in Lane Cove in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 19, 2021. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

EV Car Sales Increased 257 Percent in Western Australia

EV sales in Western Australia have surged to 6,590 in 2023, up from 1,845 at the same time last year, FCAI data shows. This represents a 257 percent increase in EV uptake in the state.

A ‘State of Electric Vehicles’ report released by the Electric Vehicle Council in July showed EV sales in Australia were “on track” to more than double in 2023.

Most EV sales in Australia were Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and BYD Atto 3, accounting for 68 percent of the EV market (pdf).

“Although Australia has a lot of work to do to catch up with leading EV countries, every state, territory, and the federal government is now actively supporting the uptake of zero-emission technology,” the EV Council said.

50 Percent of Cost to Buy an EV Charger

The Western Australian grants provide successful applicants with funding for up to 50 percent of the cost of an EV charger for not-for-profits, small, and medium businesses and local government authorities.

They can be AC chargers or faster DC chargers covering a total range between 7 kilowatts (kW) to 350kW.

So far, $2.4 million worth of grants have been approved to install 403 EV chargers in 221 locations in Western Australia including Perth, Karratha, and Albany.

Mr. Johnston said this second round introduces faster DC chargers, providing additional benefits to eligible businesses and organisations.

“The program encourages daytime charging, enabling EV owners to utilise abundant solar energy during sunny hours, which also assists in stabilising our electricity grid,” Mr. Johnston said.

Round two grants close on March 3, 2024. Mr. Johnson said in the first round, the government helped small and medium businesses, not-for-profits and local government authorities to install EV chargers for customers, clients and staff.

“Thanks to these grants, chargers are now operational in regional communities that support local tourism, small businesses and community service organisations,” Mr. Johnston said.

The FCAI welcomed the funding and said EV charging infrastructure is “absolutely critical” to a low-emissions technology future.

“The $12.5 million investment in round two of the Charge Up Workplace Electric Vehicle grant program will help expand charging infrastructure throughout Western Australia and support not-for-profits, small and medium businesses, and local government authorities purchase and install an EV charger,” the FCAI said.