NSW Spends AU$16.5m on EV Chargers as Registrations Hit 155K
New South Wales allocates new funds for public charging and fleet electrification, noting that over 155,000 EVs are now registered in the state.
Key points
- NSW invests AU$16.5 million in EV charging infrastructure, split between kerbside chargers and business fleet electrification.
- All new funded charging sites must use 100% renewable energy permanently, a new mandatory condition for subsidy recipients.
- The funding addresses a critical gap as Australia sees BEVs outsell petrol cars for the first time, despite limited service capacity.
The New South Wales government is deploying AU$16.5 million to expand public electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This investment coincides with the state passing the 155,000 registered EV mark, a threshold that highlights the growing strain on existing power networks and service capabilities.
The funding is divided into two distinct streams to address different user needs. One portion supports the installation of kerbside chargers, while the other assists businesses in transitioning their vehicle fleets to electric power, aiming to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions simultaneously.
Funding split between public and commercial needs
AU$5 million is designated for chargepoint operators to install kerbside units, offering subsidies of up to AU$6,000 for AC ports and AU$30,000 for DC fast chargers. A separate AU$11.5 million package targets organizations with fleets of 21 or more vehicles, providing up to AU$8,000 per DC port to support larger-scale adoption.
This round includes 37 Local Government Areas across Greater Sydney and regional NSW, with several councils becoming eligible for the first time. Commercial car parks are also newly eligible for grants, broadening the scope of where public charging can be accessed.
Mandatory renewable energy requirement for new sites
A strict condition applies to all funded infrastructure: every charging site must source 100% renewable energy for its electricity usage in perpetuity. This requirement ensures that the expansion of the EV network does not simply shift environmental burdens to the grid but actively supports the transition to clean energy.
Infrastructure lags behind record sales momentum
According to EV Infrastructure News, this state-level move occurs as national EV sales outpace the availability of charging and servicing options. Battery electric vehicles outsold petrol cars in Australia for the first time recently, with BEVs reaching a record share of new car sales.
Despite this growth, only about one in ten repairers in Australia are currently EV-certified. This gap in skilled labor and reliable infrastructure remains a significant barrier to broader adoption, even as consumer interest in electric vehicles continues to rise sharply.
