The Liberal South Australian government is now accepting proposals from charge point operators to participate in its $13.4 million plan to build out the state’s electric vehicle charging network, and end what it calls “road-trip anxiety” by 2023.
In detailed funding guidelines released on Thursday, the Marshall government calls for proposals for rapid highway charging and charge points at hotels, motels and holiday parks. It also wants proposals for fast charging in city-centre car parks and other destinations away from the home.
The state government hopes the $13.4 million of funding will mobilise almost double that figure in private funding. There will be no shortage of willing sites to put these charge points, after a call for expressions of interest to host the charging stations received more than 600 responses.
“The EV Charging Network will address key barriers to electric vehicle uptake of driving range and road trip anxiety and demonstrate to EV manufacturers that South Australia is an ‘EV ready’ market,” the document says.
“This will improve EV model availability and pricing, shape industry development, influence long term customer practices and help make electric vehicles a viable choice for regional road trips by 2023 and the default vehicle of choice for Government, households and businesses by 2030.”
The guidelines call for charge points in locations that are “safe and convenient to use, accessible to all persons, close to amenities and attractions and provide a foundation for ongoing market competition”.
They also emphasise “smart charging” technology that maximises use of renewably-generated electricity, does not overburden the grid at times of high demand, and that integrates with other onsite electrical appliances such as water heaters, air conditioners and pool pumps.
The government wants technology that “entrench[es] smart charging into industry and consumer preferences and energy management demand practice”.
The document broadly identifies three types of charge point: 100 kilowatt or above ultra-rapid chargers, for use at highway service stations; 75 kW or above rapid chargers, for use at shopping centres, supermarkets, and other short-stay car parks; and 7 kW or above fast, for overnight use at hotels and for corporate fleets in CBD car parks.
It also wants the proposals to be scaleable – so while, for example, a proposal for a CBD car park may start relatively small, it should be able to scale up so that at least 10 per cent of the parking bays in the car park could be fitted with charge points, and integrated into a “single smart demand management system”.
The SA Liberals’ emphasis on the use of EVs for holidays is a departure from their federal counterparts, who have often expressed conttempt for EVs, pooh-poohing their ability to match up to the recreational potential of petrol and diesel vehicles.
In the lead up to the 2019 election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison famously ridiculed Labor’s proposed EV policy, saying it would “end the weekend” because EVs supposedly can’t tow boats and caravans or replace utes – something he later was forced to admit wasn’t true. This attitude has translated to a near total absense of federal EV policy.
By contrast, the South Australian Liberal government is envisaging a world where EVs are the default vehicle for all purposes by 2030, including recreational road trips. The document itself is sprinkled with expansive photos of the open road and a mock-up of a fossil fuel-free highway service station sign advertising only EV charging rates and “bio-diesel”.
The deadline for bids is August 2, with work expected to begin on successful bids by the end of the year. Successful proposals must be able to have completed within two years.
James Fernyhough is a reporter at RenewEconomy and The Driven. He has worked at The Australian Financial Review and the Financial Times, and is interested in all things related to climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy.