Brisbane company EVOS creates new buzz with EV charger

Brisbane-based electric vehicle charging company EVOS has scored a big coup, sealing a deal with fuel giant Ampol to distribute its latest home EV charger.

EVOS's new charger

Brisbane-based electric vehicle charging company EVOS Energy scored a big coup this week after sealing a deal with fuel giant Ampol to distribute its latest home EV charger.

Ampol, which like most major fuel companies is looking to the day when its service stations pump electricity rather than petrol, will offer EVOS’ new home charger through its e-commerce platform later this year. While cheaper electric cars on the way charging them at home remains a challenge, particularly for the millions of Australians living in apartment blocks built in previous decades.

EVOS cofounder Marcelo Salgado says the firm has come a long way from small beginnings over the past two years and is now looking to export its technology to the US and Europe.

The company began production of its first charger designed for fleet operators in 2021 after an initial capital raising of $1.7m. Earlier this month it announced it had secured $5m in new capital to help launch its new home-based charger.

EVOS CEO and co-founder Marcelo Salgado

Salgado (illustrated) says the 7kW charger can add 35km of range every hour of charging time, making it ideal to meet daily driving needs. “The charger has to be easy to install with no restrictions as to where it can go on a property, be easy to monitor and help them manage their costs in an era when everyone is concerned with energy prices,” Salgado says.

He tells your diarist that the company, which designs and manufactures all it’s products in Brisbane, now employs 22 people. One of the biggest problems with electric vehicles isn’t range, size of battery or choice of vehicles but energy.

“If we’re going to transition fleets to electric, whether for small businesses or large businesses, you’re going to have an energy problem when you start installing charging stations at your workplace, or getting employees to charge their vehicles at home,” he says.

Experts says the cost of upgrading older building’s electrical hardware and installing charging points still remains prohibitive. Ross De Rango, head of energy and infrastructure at the Electric Vehicle Council said the scale of the problem is enormous.

“There are about 1.3 million flats and apartments in Australia. EV charging installations in those homes will often present more complex requirements than we see in freestanding homes and townhouses with driveways and garages,” says De Rango.

“The scale of the challenge is large – for example, if the average cost per dwelling in apartment complexes to do the electrical work to enable installation of EV charging is $1000-$2000, then the total spend needed is in the billions of dollars.”

EVOS new home-based charger

Bubbling over

Gold Coast-based alcoholic seltzer Hard FIZZ has just signed a national distribution deal with SouthTrade International, which is set to boost its reach and market share.

The brand has sold 4.5 million cans worth more than $19 million in gross sales since opening its doors in 2020 and counts Grammy nominated DJ Fisher among its celebrity owners as well as professional surfers Laura Enever and Nikki Van Dijk, Adelaide Crows captain Rory Sloane and TV chef Hayden Quinn. The alcoholic seltzer category is expected to hit $380 million nationally this year, with Hard FIZZ being the number one independently owned alcoholic seltzer by value, third after major brands White Claw and Smirnoff.

Rory Sloane has a bubbly new side hustle after signing on as owner ambassador for 'better for you' alcoholic seltzer Hard FIZZ. Picture: Supplied