Electric vehicle (EV) chargers are becoming the game-changer for businesses, putting them on the map - quite literally.

The popularity of EVs continues to grow thanks to being cheaper to run than internal combustion engines, are quieter on the road and reduce air pollution. However, it appears that the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among potential buyers has encountered a slowdown, compared to expectations. This can be attributed to a deficiency in the nationwide charging infrastructure, which has failed to keep pace with the increasing demand for electric vehicles.

Having recognised the lack of EV charging stations the NSW government, to their credit, is now accelerating their efforts to fill the gap in EV charging infrastructure, particularly in regional areas.

The government’s EV Strategy includes a plan to support motorists to make their next vehicle an EV. It hopes to do this by making NSW the easiest place to buy and drive an EV in Australia. Welcome news for EV drivers, and for the environment, under the strategy, is that stamp duty on EVs will be phased out, and drivers will have access to a world-class road network of ultra-fast charging stations. However, there is much work to do! 

A priority in this plan is guaranteed widespread EV charging across NSW, so the NSW government is investing $20 million to assist eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of EV chargers at eligible sites. This funding is available through the Drive electric NSW EV destination charging grant.

The grant covers 75 per cent of the costs of an EV charger, which is a significant incentive for businesses, and so far, 167 sites across regional NSW have been successful in taking advantage of this. 

The government’s EV Strategy investment includes co-investing in ultra-fast chargers at minimum 100 km intervals across all major NSW highways – creating ‘EV Super-Highways’ across the State. Additionally, the strategy is aiming to ensure that households right across Sydney have no more than 5 km to drive to the next ultra-fast EV charger, creating ‘EV Commuter Corridors’ right across the city. The government is also supporting private industry to build new ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure in areas where drivers are not able to access private off-street parking - about 30 percent of drivers.

Businesses need to consider that an EV charger can put their business on the map - literally. Now that more drivers are switching to EVs, and they are planning their trips around EV charging locations. So it is likely that any business that includes an EV charger is more likely to attract visitation. 

Applications close on Friday 3 May 2024 so there is time to investigate and get access to part of the $20 million available in the current funding round.

The Bugle spoke to the owners of Silos Estate near Berry, who were ahead of the pack when they installed their first EV charger in 2007, and then some ‘destination chargers’ in 2011. Finally they installed a bank of six Tesla Superchargers in 2017, and now have a total of 14 charging stations on site! Rajarshi and Sophie said, “We didn't install them for financial reasons. We chose to do it for two reasons (a) to bring more people to our region (these are all new people - without the charging infrastructure they wouldn't be coming here) and (b) to be part of the solution in terms of decarbonisation.”

Some welcome news for existing and potential EV drivers from Jenny Aitchison, the Minister for Regional Transport: “It is great news that as a result of the NSW Government’s partnership with the NRMA we will deliver 25 additional fast chargers throughout regional NSW. The charger locations have been chosen strategically to connect major centres within the state and also to link up with major routes in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.”

“In the last year, EV registrations have risen more than 140 per cent on average across NSW and with new charging infrastructure we are making it easier for drivers to travel longer, cleaner journeys.

“This is a significant improvement for regional transport and in key regional hubs, like Wollongong where there is now a 150kW charger, which has an even greater and faster charging capacity to get people moving more quickly. 

The installation of new charging stations seems to be limited to Wollongong, with Kiama still lacking these essential facilities. This is particularly noteworthy considering the high influx of tourists to the area. It's surprising that Kiama, a popular destination, has not yet seen the implementation of EV chargers to cater to the growing demand in this region. This presents an excellent opportunity for local businesses.