Tasmania will soon have more sites for electric vehicle fast-chargers, thanks to over $500,000 worth of grants announced by the state’s Department of Environment, Parks and Heritage on Monday.
The DC fast-charger grants, which will add fourteen fast-chargers at 12 new locations, form the last parts of a statewide electric car charging network funded by the Tasmanian Liberal government.
Placed along key corridors connecting Tasmania’s pristine wilderness from north to south and east to north-west, the state government says the half a million dollar investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure will stimulate a total spend of $2.5 million.
Along with $50,000 announced by the Tasmanian government in May for workplace chargers at councils, universities and other organisations as part of its ChargeSmart program, and another $27,500 for destination chargers at 11 locations, the funding brings the total investment in statewide EV charging to around $600,000.
Evie Networks, which recently inked a deal with US-based EV Connect to utilise the California-based company’s charging management software solutions, is the recipient of funding for two of the locations announced on Monday.
They will both be 350kW ultra-rapid fast-chargers, Evie’s head of sales and marketing Geoff Brady tells The Driven.
“There will be 2 350kW charging stations in each of those sites, which will be amazing for electric car drivers,” says Brady.
While Brady was unable to confirm a timeline for rollout just yet, “It’s part of our broader highway network that we’ll be announcing soon,” Brady says.
“We will leverage EV Connect software to manage the stations nationally, with EV Connect bringing a decade of experience – we’re thrilled to have them alongside.
“These sites will also be reflective of what we want from charging experience, such as site convenience so drivers can alleviate range anxiety and charge conveniently and quickly.”
Powered by renewable energy from Tasmania’s hydro-driven grid, the rollout of the fast-charging network will further the state’s bid to improve its transport-related emissions.
The entire list of recipients of the latest round of funding are as follows:
| Bennetts Petroleum Supplies Pty Ltd (New Norfolk) | South | $35,000 |
| City of Hobart | South | $50,000 |
| Huon Valley Council | South | $50,000 |
| Evie Networks (Campbell Town) | Central | $50,000 |
| Evie Networks (Elizabeth Town) | Central | $42,000 |
| Electric Highway Tasmania (Swansea) | East | $40,000 |
| Electric Highway Tasmania (St Helens) | North East | $40,000 |
| Energy ROI (Scottsdale) | North East | $48,930 |
| Electric Highway Tasmania (Burnie) | North West | $20,000 |
| Electric Highway Tasmania (Derwent Bridge) | West | $50,000 |
| Electric Highway Tasmania (Queenstown) | West | $50,000 |
| Devonport City Council | North | $50,000 |
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.