From left, ABB emerging markets sales director Wim Elshout, Lily D’Ambrosio, Chargefox chief executive officer Marty Andrews and ABB Australia EV charging sales manager Steven Amor at the expo.
Australian EV charging network firm Chargefox will get $1 million from the Victorian government to develop ultra-rapid vehicle charging sites in the state.
The ABB 350kW chargers will be in townships Euroa and Barnawartha North in the state’s north-east, the latter on the Hume Highway.
Energy, environment and climate change minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced the project at the All-Energy Australia conference and expo in Melbourne on October 3.
Chargefox has made an electric vehicle (EV) charge management software platform designed and built in Australia and will create two charging sites with multiple charging stations at each.
They are expected to include two ABB 350kW chargers and two Tritium 50kW chargers for each site.
The two Victorian sites will be the third group of sites in the world at the 350kW power level.
Chargefox will match the Labor Government’s funding to build the stations, expected to be operational by the end of October.
The charging stations will dramatically reduce charging time for drivers, with up to 400km of range delivered in 15 minutes, the fastest of any charger currently deployed in Australia, the minister says.
The locations will make it easier for motorists travelling interstate, providing a boon for local economies, and boosting tourism in regional Victoria, she adds.
The Labor Government has legislated for net zero emissions by 2050 and says this new investment in EVs will help the sector along the journey to a low carbon future.
“Electric vehicles are the future, and we’re ensuring Victoria is at the forefront of this transition,” D’Ambrosio says.
“With our solar homes initiative and plans for electric vehicles, Victoria is leading the nation in new energy technology.”
Northern Victoria member Jaclyn Symes adds: “We’re bringing the world’s best technology to regional Victoria and supporting local businesses along the way.”
“These ultra-rapid charging sites will bring more tourists to our towns and help drive down emissions.”
Chargefox is an EV charge management software platform with sibling company JET Charge which essentially deals with hardware and installations.
JET Charge is involved with Jaguar Australia in providing a charging network, which includes 45 Jaguar dealers, to support the Jaguar I-Pace due here shortly.
