NSW launches pole-mounted chargers to boost EV adoption

PLUS ES and AGL are launching an initiative to expand New South Wales' public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure as Australia prepares to implement new vehicle emission standards in 2025.

Thirty-nine pole-mounted kerbside electric vehicle chargers have been launched in Sydney's inner west. This project, supported by a New South Wales Government grant, will eventually see 149 chargers installed across the state. Residents of areas including Birchgrove, Balmain, Lewisham, Stanmore, and Newtown will benefit from free charging at these locations until 31 January 2025.

The initiative is timely, with 30% of drivers in NSW lacking access to private off-street parking, leading them to use potentially hazardous solutions for charging their vehicles. By repurposing existing power poles for EV charging, the project aims to increase safety and accessibility while keeping costs low.

Rob Amphlett Lewis, Group Executive of Distributed Services at PLUS ES, commented on the scheme's significance, "This partnership marks a significant milestone on the path to a cleaner, more accessible, and sustainable future for transportation."

"We expect that deploying safe, accessible, kerbside EV charging into the community will encourage those who are unable to charge at home to make their next car purchase an EV. Importantly, by using existing power poles, we can do it efficiently, keeping costs and community disruption to a minimum."

Lewis added, "We are providing the hardware, allowing the customer to benefit from the products the retailer is able to offer."

The project is envisaged as a pilot for a model that could be replicated throughout the state. By requiring less dedicated parking and increasing the availability of chargers through the reuse of existing infrastructure, the project would minimise the impact on communities. 

Jo Egan, AGL's Chief Customer Officer, commented, "We know that availability of public charging can be a barrier to people choosing to purchase an EV, so by installing these 149 chargers into Sydney, we hope to create greater convenience for those already with EVs and reduce barriers to future adoption." 

She further highlighted the project's sustainable energy approach, stating, "We will use our GreenPower product to supply these chargers, so the same amount of energy used by the chargers will be fed into the grid from renewable sources."

AGL emphasises the project as part of its efforts to support the transition to electric vehicles. "This project is a continuation of AGL's innovation and customer-focused EV products and offers, like our EV subscription model, home charging offers and EV Night Saver plan that are all working to accelerate the change to electric vehicles," Egan noted.

Jo Egan concluded by saying, "Whether or not you are a customer of AGL, we want it to be easy and accessible for people to be at the centre of the energy transition."