Mass EV adoption in Australia now a real possibility

Chargefox, Australia’s fastest growing electric vehicle network has reached a new milestone this week announcing the opening of its first ultra-rapid charging station in Western Australia (our eighteenth nationally) and a partnership with Volvo to give owners of the XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid five years unlimited charging at all Chargefox ultra-rapid sites (up to 350kW) and at participating Chargefox- managed fast charging sites Australia-wide. Chargefox has now delivered this world-leading charging technology to EV drivers in all but one state or territory in Australia and has partnerships with most of the major car manufacturers.

Chargefox also announced that use of their network of chargers is reducing carbon emissions by 50 tonnes every month. That’s the equivalent of more than 25,000 kilos of coal burning avoided in an average month.

Marty Andrews, CEO of Chargefox said “Chargefox has now built 18 ultra-rapid charging stations around Australia on the Chargefox network that are totally powered by renewable energy, with many others using green power where possible. We have almost 10,000 users on our app, and we have powered more than 145,000 EV charging sessions. We are really pleased to see the positive impact our network is having on the environment at such a critical moment in time.”

“Australia’s per capita transport emissions are 45% higher than the OECD average, with transport being our third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Cars are responsible for roughly half of those emissions. Chargefox has powered over 2 million carbon-free kms and, once the state borders open and it is safe to go on driving holidays this summer, we are able to offer EV drivers the opportunity to explore Australia whilst reducing their carbon footprint,” Marty said.

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It has been a big year for Chargefox, the company now has partnerships with most of the major car manufacturers including Volvo, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar and Audi.

“Every global car manufacturer now has a deadline for when they will cease production of petrol cars. VW, the second biggest manufacturer in the world, will stop the production of petrol vehicles by 2026. Our network of charging infrastructure, combined with our partnerships to offer free and discounted charging to drivers of select EV models, is helping move Australia towards a cleaner future” Marty said.

Behyad Jafari, Electric Vehicle Council CEO said, “our data shows 56 per cent of Australians are now considering purchasing an electric car as their next vehicle, and access to world-class charging infrastructure is key to their decision. The expanding Chargefox network helps drivers feel confident about buying an electric vehicle, knowing they can charge whilst out and about, at work and at home. Australia needs simple, reliable EV charging solutions and Chargefox continues to bridge that gap.”

“Turning on our latest two charging stations in regional Victoria and WA means drivers can now travel up and down the east coast of Australia, and from Melbourne to Adelaide without long charging stops. These sites will further reduce range anxiety and help drive EV adoption in Australia. As all the major car companies focus their efforts on building EV models, we anticipate that 2021 will be the year that we will see the tipping point of EV adoption in Australia,” Marty said.

Editor’s Notes

Chargefox is the biggest and fastest growing open charging network in Australia for modern EVs. The ultra-rapid charging network is an investment by the Australian Motoring Services (RACV, NRMA, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT), Wilson Transformers and the founder of Carsales, Greg Roebuck. It is supported with grants from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Victorian Government.

Chargefox’s multiple partnerships with car manufacturers mean that Australians can confidently purchase an EV backed by the Chargefox network.

The freely-available Chargefox app also helps users easily find, use and pay for charging across hundreds of stations in Australia and New Zealand.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) – Chargefox received funding from ARENA as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.

Technical Details

Site location: 10 The Promenade, Australind WA 6233

The Chargefox site in Australind features two 350kW capable Tritium Veefil PK chargers. At an average of 20kWh/100km the 350kW chargers can deliver up to 450km of range in 15 minutes.

The chargers are equipped with both CHAdeMO and CCS2 plug types, making them suitable for all current and future DC-capable EVs, including Tesla. Tesla Model S/X vehicles require an adapter.

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