NSW maps EV fast-charging network future

The New South Wales Government has released an online interactive map, the Electric Vehicle Charging Masterplan, designed to showcase the state’s potential Electric Vehicle (EV) fast-charging network.

The Masterplan is a fully open-access map that will help investors identify optimal locations for electric vehicle fast-charging infrastructure and will help to assess applications for EV charging grants.

New South Wales Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, said the interactive plan is about making the state the best place in the nation to buy and drive an electric vehicle.

“The Masterplan highlights our plans to boost our existing charging network by over 300 per cent – providing more EV charging stations than all the other Australian states and territories combined,” Mr Constance said.

“The New South Wales Government will co-fund new ultra-fast charging stations by providing about 1,000 charging bays along key travel routes across the state and unlocking around $160 million in private investment.

“The ultra-fast chargers will allow vehicles to charge to optimal range in under ten minutes or about the time it takes to have a cup of coffee – future-proofing the state and signaling to the market that New South Wales is ready to receive more EV models.”

New South Wales Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, said the Masterplan will include data on electricity supply, traffic volumes, points of interest and projected demand for chargers over the next ten years.

“This Masterplan will put range anxiety firmly in the rear-view mirror,” Mr Kean said.

“Our EV strategy will build EV super highways and commuter corridors across the state – keeping communities connected and ensuring travellers can reach their destination with ease.

“We will also ensure all government-funded charging stations are powered with renewable energy, helping to reduce emissions to net zero.”

World-first free EV fast-charging kiosk

An initiative from Ausgrid has seen the state’s first-ever transformation of an existing streetside kiosk into a state-of-the-art JOLT EV charging station in Mona Vale, near the heavy traffic volume areas identified by the Masterplan.

Ausgrid Chief Customer Officer, Rob Amphlett Lewis, said Ausgrid’s program to convert existing streetside “green boxes” to double as charging stations was going to help push Sydney into greater EV take-up.

“We’re using existing, essential electrical infrastructure on the street to provide a free service for the community and hopefully help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in Australia,” Mr Amphlett Lewis said.

“People will be able to pull up, plug in and be on their way in 15 minutes.”

JOLT Chief Executive Officer, Doug McNamee, said he plans to rollout 500 charging kiosks across the Ausgrid network.

“JOLT’s partnership with Ausgrid helps solve the major barriers affecting the uptake of EVs including access to charging, cost and range anxiety,” Mr McNamee said.

“In the last twelve months, EV ownership has skyrocketed, almost doubling to 23 thousand new registrations, representing the second year in a row where the total number of electric vehicles has almost doubled. 

“Now more than ever, Australians are gearing up for an EV revolution.”

Customers will be able to sign up via the JOLT app to access 7kWh for free once per day, which takes around 15 minutes to charge. Users looking for more than 7kWh can pay for further energy via the app.

The next kiosk will open in Strathfield, with plans for charging stations to be rolled out across Sydney including Randwick, Hornsby and the Northern Beaches.

The Electric Vehicle Charging Masterplan is the latest step in the state’s nation leading half-a-billion-dollar Electric Vehicle Strategy, released as part of the 2021-22 New South Wales Budget.

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