EV drivers to get hundreds of new chargers
Hundreds of kerbside electric vehicle charging points will be rolled out across NSW, as part of the Minns’ government’s multimillion-dollar pledge to boost consumer uptake and confidence.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe on Sunday unveiled the first recipients of the government’s EV kerbside charging grants, announcing 671 charge ports would be installed at 391 sites across 16 local government areas.
Ms Sharpe said the government’s $4.1m investment would be matched by $8m in private investment to help provide motorists more convenient charging options for drivers without access to their own chargers.
She said expanding the state’s charging infrastructure network would give drivers more confidence to switch to an electric vehicle.
“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 per cent 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 chargers will be installed over the next 12 months across Blacktown, Burwood, the City of Sydney, Georges River, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, Newcastle, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Randwick, Waverley, Willoughby, and Woollahra councils.
Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill welcomed the news that 202 charge ports would be built across 138 sites in Sydney’s eastern suburbs alone, to the tune of $1.2m.
“We have now well surpassed our key election promise to deliver $700,000 to support EV charging infrastructure in Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra Councils,” she said.
The funding is for chargers ranging from seven to 75 kilowatts, and includes pole-mounted, pedestal, and ‘kiosk’ EV chargers to be installed either on kerbsides or in public council car parks.
The government has pledged $209m more broadly for charging infrastructure, including $149m for EV fast chargers.
