Australia will develop its first National EV Charging Roadmap to help governments and industry plan charging infrastructure through 2035 for a growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), including heavy trucks.
Led by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), the $1.43 million project will bring together vehicle manufacturers, charging providers, electricity networks, fleet operators, consumer groups and other stakeholders to assess future charging requirements across metropolitan and regional Australia.
The project has received $1.06 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through its Driving the Nation Program, with additional contributions from the EVC and project partners.
The roadmap will identify emerging charging demand, infrastructure pressure points and areas where better coordination could help guide future investment. It will consider passenger and heavy vehicle charging as part of an integrated national network.
Coordinating Australia’s charging infrastructure
EVC Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio said the focus was shifting from encouraging EV adoption to ensuring charging infrastructure could keep pace with market growth.
“The debate about whether Australians will choose electric vehicles is increasingly behind us,” Ms Delvecchio said. “The options are here, and Australians are buying them in record numbers. The focus now needs to be on what happens next – so our charging system scales as EV adoption grows.
“The challenge is not simply to deliver more chargers, but to ensure we invest in the right charging infrastructure nationally, in the right places, at the right time. That requires a more coordinated approach to transport, energy and infrastructure planning.”
Ms Delvecchio said the roadmap would draw on approaches used in other major EV markets while accounting for Australia’s distances, electricity system and different vehicle requirements.
Dr Alina Dini, the EVC’s head of energy, infrastructure and commercial and the roadmap’s project director said consultation with industry and other stakeholders would be central to developing the plan.
“Australia’s charging challenge is not a lack of activity,” Dr Dini said. “Significant investment and innovation are underway, but decisions across different sectors are often being made independently, without a shared understanding of future demand.
“This Roadmap is about bringing those pieces together so the sector can work from a common national vision.”
The consultation will involve charging providers, vehicle manufacturers, electricity networks, fleet operators, property owners, researchers, consumer representatives and communities.
Dr Dini said the roadmap would act as a planning and coordination tool rather than a fixed prediction or prescription. Its scenarios and priorities will provide a shared evidence base for investment decisions as EV uptake, charging technology, consumer behaviour and heavy vehicle electrification evolve.
Planning for passenger and heavy vehicle demand
The roadmap will examine how charging needs vary across vehicle types and operating environments, including those of freight fleets.
ARENA Chief Executive Officer Darren Miller said a reliable charging network would be essential to supporting Australia’s transport transition.
“A reliable and well-planned charging network will be critical to supporting Australia’s transport transition. While investment in charging infrastructure continues to grow, it’s important that future deployment is guided by a clear understanding of where demand will emerge across households, businesses, freight and public charging.
“Through this Roadmap, ARENA is supporting the nation’s most comprehensive assessment of future charging needs. This will help industry and governments plan and invest with confidence, so Australians can access charging infrastructure where they need it.”
Ms Delvecchio said the development of the roadmap would be the beginning of a broader effort to coordinate investment and action across the transport and energy sectors.
“The bigger job is turning evidence into coordinated action across industry, the energy system and government. The EVC will continue to bring those perspectives together as the Roadmap moves from development to delivery.”
The final National EV Charging Roadmap is expected to be released in mid-2027.
Industry stakeholders interested in contributing can register for project updates and consultation opportunities through the Electric Vehicle Council website.
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