Minns government to empower EV owners with kerbside charging stations

Motorists driving electric cars will have hundreds more places to recharge after the Minns government embarked on the largest rollout of public kerbside chargers in the country.

Motorists driving electric cars will have hundreds more places to recharge after the Minns government embarked on the largest rollout of public kerbside chargers in the country.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal 671 charging ports will be installed at 391 sites, from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to the City of Newcastle.

The move follows the Minns government redirecting some of the savings it made from scrapping a $3000 subsidy for drivers who buy a new electric vehicle into rolling out more charging stations.

Labor also pledged in the lead-up to the last state election that it would increase the take up of EVs by investing $4.1 million into charging ports – a financial commitment that will be matched by $8 million in private investment.

The government is counting on electric vehicles helping the government to meet its net zero emission targets.

A Tesla owner connects her vehicle a white kerbside charging pod.

It is also aware that expanding the state’s EV charging infrastructure network will help boost confidence among ­motorists to go electric.

The government has awarded eight councils and businesses grants to install new kerbside chargers across 16 local government areas.

Coogee MP Marjorie O'Neill (left) and NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe with an EV.

The funding is for chargers ranging from 7 kilowatts to 75 kilowatts, and will include pole mounted, pedestal and “kiosk” EV chargers.

The chargers will be installed on kerbsides or in public council car parks over the next 12 months, and available to the public around-the-clock.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, whose ministerial car is electric, said the grants were part of a $209 million commitment into charging infrastructure.

The investment also included $149 million for EV “fast chargers”, which reduce the time it takes to top up batteries; $20 million for EV “destination charging grants” to install ports at regional tourist spots; and $10 million towards retrofitting EV infrastructure in apartment buildings.

“This investment will significantly increase the availability of public charging options and give people confidence their next vehicle purchase can be an EV,” Ms Sharpe 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.”

Across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, 202 charging ports will be installed at 138 sites.

Coogee MP Dr Marjorie O’Neill said public chargers would enable visitors to the beach to charge their EVs while they relaxed.

“It’ll allow EV drivers to come to the beaches, charge their car while they enjoy the surf, then head home with a full battery,” she said.

In welcoming the rollout, Electric Vehicle Council chief executive officer Behyad Jafari said convenient and visible charging infrastructure was critical to giving people the confidence to switch to EVs.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]