Behyad Jafari.
The Morrison Government’s strategic and timely investment in fast-charging infrastructure will encourage more Australians to select an electric vehicle as their next car and reduce pollution, the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) says.
The $15 million investment in Evie Networks through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for 42 charging stations connecting Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane, plus destination charging in Far North Queensland, Tasmania, and Perth is significant EVC chief executive officer Behyad Jafari says.
All the stations will be powered by renewable energy.
The funding will support the first phase of Evie Networks $50.2 million EV charging network along Australia’s major highways.
“The federal government’s investment will make a major difference to thousands of Australians who we know are actively considering making their next car electric,” Jafari says.
“Australians already know that EVs are a clearly superior choice within our cities. A network of fast-charging stations will give them confidence that EVs are the superior option for our highways as well.
“Ensuring Australia’s highway network is serviced with fast-charging stations is a high priority initiative as identified by Infrastructure Australia. It’s terrific to see the Australian Government making investments that align with this need.
“It’s also fantastic to see the federal government backing clever Australian innovation and business. I note the charging network will make use of fast charge units produced by Tritium, an outstanding Australian business whose main manufacturing plant is based in Brisbane.”
Jafari says tremendous economic opportunities are available to Australian business through the global EV transition with strategic public investments like this injecting “enormous confidence” into the sector.
