The ChargeSmart program will compliment Tasmania's first 50kW charger installed in October 2018.
Australia’s island state of Tasmania is looking to exploit its natural advantage of a low emissions grid with $450,000 worth of grants for councils, departments, universities and organisations to install electric car chargers.
The ChargeSmart funding program will see a range of different charging solutions, from workplace chargers to DC fast chargers rolled out all across Tasmania as part of the apple isle’s Climate Action 21 plan, with the aim of reducing emissions and maintaining the Tasmanian environment’s pristine state.
The rollout of chargers across the state will compliment other recent additions to Tasmania’s electric vehicle infrastructure, which includes the state’s first ultra-rapid 350kW charger installed as part of the Chargefox network just weeks ago, and its first 50kW fast charger installed by Tritium in October 2018.
Nearly $50,000 has been awarded to 11 organisations to install workplace chargers that will enable employees to charge their electric vehicles while at work, and another $27,500 – $2,500 each – has been awarded to 11 hospitality businesses, community and educational organisations, and councils for the installation of AC destination chargers for public use.
Further grants of up to $50,000 each will be awarded to organisations to install DC fast chargers that will allow the public to stop and recharge their EVs in as little as 10 minutes.
The installation of electric vehicle destination and fast chargers, which will be distributed all across Tasmania, where electric vehicles make most sense because of its near 100% renewable grid, courtesy of its considerable hydro resources and growing wind energy portfolio.
The shift to electric transport has often been cited as a huge economic potential for Tasmania, both to reduce its billion-solar plus fuel import bill, but also as a boost to tourism and manufacturing.
The eleven organisations that have successfully applied for workplace charging installations include:
The other eleven businesses and departments that will use $2,500 funding per piece for public use AC electric car chargers include:
Submissions for the final DC fast charging grants closed last week and will be announced in coming weeks.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.
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