NSW to install 1,000 high power charging bays by 2027
The government of New South Wales, Australia, has released details for its electric vehicle charging masterplan, which aims to install 1,000 ultra-fast charging bays along major routes. The plan for the rollout of 350-kW chargers promises the biggest EV charging network of any state or territory in Australia.
+ + Kindly see our update below + +
It also builds on ongoing efforts in New South Wales, a state that reportedly introduced a 3,000-dollar rebate for EVs below the price of $68,000 and a stamp duty exemption in June this year. The package announced at the time already included a 171-million-dollar budget for public charging infrastructure, equivalent to about 106 million euros or 126Mn US-Dollars.
When unveiling the detailed master plan today, transport minister Andrew Constance said the state was also hoping to unlock around $160 million in private investment.
State co-funding will be provided through four tender rounds to reach said 1,000 charging bays across the state by 2027. Tenderers will have two years to complete their installations.
The government has yet to define the term charging bay, i.e., a minimum number of charging columns per site. The stations have to be ready to deliver 350 kW, however.
Energy and environment minister Matt Keans, the first minister in Australia to drive an EV, added, “We will also ensure all Government-funded charging stations are powered with renewable energy.”
In the master plan, NSW has identified five renewable energy zones in the state and says these will help guide and select the best sites for wind, solar, and storage projects. According to the government, the first two zones have already attracted more than 60 GW of project proposals.
Accompanying the tender is also an open-access map designed to help investors identify “optimal locations” for electric vehicle fast-charging infrastructure and assess applications for EV charging grants. The interactive map includes data on electricity supply, traffic volumes, points of interest and projected demand for chargers over the next ten years.
If all goes to plan, the new ultra-rapid chargers will boost the state’s existing charging network by more than 300 per cent.
Update Tuesday 8 February 2022:
The New South Wales government has opened the first $35 million funding round for the planned electric vehicle charging network. This first $35 million round is part of the $171 million funding program over four years mentioned above to help roll out 1,000 ultra-fast charging stations across the state.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW Government will co-fund up to 50% of the capital costs for businesses to construct fast and ultra-fast charging bays along key travel routes across the state.
The first stage applications should be finalised in April with successful bidders and sites announced in mid-2022. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2022. All charging stations approved in this first round must be fully installed within 2 years.
nsw.gov.au (the master plan), nswmaps.evenergi.com (the map), thedriven.io, nsw.gov.au (NSW announcement), update: thedriven.io, theguardian.com, environment.nsw.gov.au
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