The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed $2.4 million in funding to EVX Australia Pty Ltd (EVX). This funding will support the rollout of 250 public kerbside electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will be built across more than 60 local government areas in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. This initiative aims to expand access to EV charging infrastructure significantly.
With kerbside charging, drivers will have increased accessibility to charging infrastructure. This is especially useful in areas where EV owners lack access to home or work charging.
EVX will design and manufacture the pole-mounted chargers in Australia. They address the challenges local governments and utility providers face in rolling out sustainable EV charging infrastructure.
Using existing utility poles allows for a smoother, less disruptive installation process. Meanwhile, the smart charging capabilities ensure a low impact on the local electricity grid.
Addressing Barriers to EV Adoption
ARENA CEO Darren Miller explained that the project addresses a key barrier to electric vehicle adoption.
“Not all electric vehicle owners have the ability to charge their vehicle at home or at work, which is why we’re excited to partner with EVX on this rollout that utilises kerbside charging poles,” Miller said.
“While sales of EVs are increasing, the expansion of public charging is vital in catering for future demand right across Australia.”
EVX CEO Andrew Forster stressed the importance of this project in making EV charging more accessible.
“We are so excited that this partnership with ARENA is off the ground,” he said.
“The project will make EV charging more accessible for both residents and visitors to these regions, whilst also crucially allowing us to further test, adapt, and develop the way we roll out this community charging infrastructure into the future.”
Key partners, including Ausgrid, Essential Energy, Endeavour Energy, SA Power Networks, and more, will support the installation. Power will serve as the energy retailer for all 250 sites.
The collaboration will also allow EVX and the EV charging app Wevolt to create an open-access interface, improving the customer experience and enabling real-time reporting and flexible tariff structures.
The funding is part of the Driving the Nation Program, which aims to accelerate the development of clean energy projects in Australia.
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