Australians are increasingly turning to electric vehicles (EVs) as a more environmentally friendly option, but the country is facing a challenge in providing the necessary infrastructure to support the boom. The government has announced plans to set vehicle emissions standards and has doubled funding for cleaner transport to A$500 million, but public charging infrastructure remains sparse and under-powered by global standards.
The government is partnering with organisations such as NRMA Energy and Infrastructure to build 135 charging sites across the national highway network over the next two to three years, but the process of connecting to the grid is expensive and inefficient. BP is aiming for roughly 300 chargers across its petrol stations in Australia by the end of 2024, but the rollout has started small due to grid issues.
The challenge is further compounded by the global demand for ultra-fast chargers, with up to 18-month waits for those ordered today. Numerous studies must be done to make sure chargers do not dim the lights for existing customers, and the introduction of mass EV charging will take big investment.
Despite the challenges, electric vehicle sales are trending up, accounting for 8% of all car sales in April, up from 1.1% a year earlier. With the right infrastructure in place, Australia could be well on its way to becoming a leader in the EV revolution.