Port Phillip Council to scrap pilot of private kerb chargers for EVs

A trial that saw electric vehicle chargers installed on kerbs across Port Phillip council is set to be scrapped, with a plan to install units on power poles now being considered.

A private kerbside charging trial for electric vehicles in City of Port Phillip is set to be discontinued with the council to instead consider public options such as charge units mounted on power poles.

The inner-south council launched a pilot of the electric chargers on footpaths in 2022.

Eight of the Kerb Charge units, created by Williamstown accountant Rod Walker, were installed outside private homes, the first in Albert Park.

The move, revealed by the Herald Sun, was in response to the estimated 90 per cent of homes which did not have off-street parking and access to charging points.

The first Kerb Charge unit was installed in Albert Park. Picture: David Caird

The cost of kerb-side installation was about $6000, to be borne by the resident.

But a review has found that the program excluded a majority of residents, the project was complex to run, doubts existed over insurance cover as well as ambiguity of ownership of the unit.

The council will now likely seek to concentrate on a public network, with units for slow, medium and fast chargers, a report to be presented to councillors this week has said.

Chargers would be installed on existing street power poles or located near on-street parking spaces under a future program.

“They can provide single or dual charging ports depending on the type of technology,’’ the report said.

Public kerbside chargers would be installed near and charged through nearby power poles.

The council is already in talks with two companies – EVX Australia and Intellihub – to investigate pole-mounted chargers.

Port Phillip will consider Intellihub's pole-mounted charger.

EVX units have been operating in Sydney for the past 12 months.

Streets without permit zones would be prioritised for locations of the units.

The report said the number of EVs registered in the Port Phillip municipality had almost doubled since 2019.

And independent analysis forecast that about 11,000 EVs would be parked outside Port Phillip homes by 2030.

The officers’ report said that 13 per cent of Port Phillip’s community greenhouse gas emissions came from transport.

Two final Kerb Charge units are scheduled to be installed with all allowed to remain in place for at least five years.

The 350mm-high charge units are connected to the private household power supply and

drop down level to the footpath when not in use.