The agreement is the second major deal struck by Jolt, which is already rolling out EV charging stations in other parts of Sydney with another electricity network provider Ausgrid with whom it plans 500 EV charging stations. It is also active in Adelaide and New Zealand.
The Jolt charging stations are limited to 7kWh of free “fast” charging, which is usually done within a 15 minute period depending on the type of vehicle. The idea is for high rotation and convenient top ups, particularly for those without off street parking, and drivers can pay to charge longer.
They will be located next to some of the network’s existing “padmount sub-stations”, which number around 35,000 in the Endeavour network and are mostly located next to roads, shopping centres and other areas. The Jolt “box” is connected to the sub station, and Jolt also earns income from advertising hoardings on the facility.
Endeavour Energy’s chief customer and strategy officer Leanne Pickering said the first charging stations are expected to be operating by the end of this year. The location has not yet been released.
“In a world where we are ‘electrifying everything’, our customers are depending on us to support their daily life – for commuting, working remotely, for education and entertainment,” Pickering said.
Endeavour Energy forecasts that one in four of its customers will be driving an EV within the next 10 years. By 2040 it’s predicted there will be around 1.3 million electric cars in the Endeavour Energy network which covers Sydney’s greater west, as well as the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, the Illawarra, and NSW South Coast.
Jolt CEO Doug McNamee said the deal would help address issues such as access to charging, cost and range anxiety, at a time of growth in the area. “The Jolt network has already given out over 162,000 free kilometres to EV drivers, that’s 4 trips around the surface of the earth.” McNamee said in a statement.
Jolt says its chargers are powered by 100% green power.