NSW Government promises thousands of electric vehicle chargers if it wins election

Thousands of public electric vehicle chargers would be installed across the state if the Coalition is re-elected in March.

POWERING up electric vehicles will become easier for NSW commuters and people living in apartments, with a re-elected NSW Government promising to increase the number of chargers across the state from 1000 to 30,000.

With electric vehicles expected to make up 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030, charging hubs would be installed throughout the state’s transport hubs, including commuter car parks and train, bus and ferry stations.

Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean said strata laws would also be reformed to make it easier for people who don’t have access to off-street parking to charge their vehicles.

Treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“We want all drivers to be able to recharge whenever and wherever they need to, whether it’s on a road trip, commuting to work or at home,” Mr Kean said.

Planning and Homes Minister Anthony Roberts said the state government was just days away from streamlining planning laws to make it easier to install chargers in public places like power poles and parking meters.

“We know that 30 per cent of drivers can’t access off-street parking and will rely on public chargers, which is why we are cutting red tape to roll them out even faster,” Mr

Roberts said.

A charging station at Bondi Beach. Picture: Toby Zerna

Under the strata reforms – dubbed “Right to Charge” – apartment owners who are willing to pay the costs associated with the chargers and comply with strict safety requirements cannot be unreasonably refused their request for installation.

“These reforms will make it as easy as possible for people living in one of the 84,000 apartment buildings in NSW to install a charger, without passing on unfair costs to other residents,” Fair Trading Minister Victor Dominello said.

Under the Coalition’s electric vehicle program, the number of chargers across the state would be increased from about 1000 to 30,000 – more than doubling the number of existing petrol pumps in NSW.

It’s estimated that switching to an electric vehicle can save motorists about $1,000 in running costs each year.

The demand for electric vehicles in Australia increased by 65 per cent last year, reaching 3.39 per cent market share of total new car sales, according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s latest report.