Drivers who finance an electric vehicle with finance upstart Pepper Money will get a tasty sweetener in the form of free EV charging with network provider Evie Networks, it has announced.
Pepper Money says it was the leading originator of 11% of the 17,234 battery electric vehicles sold in 2021. Now it has its eyes on encouraging more drivers to go electric, by offering the free charging deal with Evie Networks.
The free charging deal with Evie Networks is for the first 12 months of ownership, or the first 2,000kWh – around 10,000-15,000 depending on the energy efficiency of the EV in question.
Evie Networks, which is backed by energy and coal baron Trevor St Baker’s innovation fund, is rolling out a network of chargers placed in strategic locations in and around capital cities and key regional areas.
These consist of 350kW ultra-rapid chargers in city areas and 50kW chargers in regional areas. The 350kW fast-chargers made by Tritium (also a St Baker-backed company) can recharge an electric vehicle in 15-30 minutes depending on the charge limit of any particular vehicle.
Ken Spellacy, GM of asset finance at Pepper Money said the deal aims to make easing into EV ownership smoother.
“In 2021, state and territory governments introduced new policies and incentives to support Australia’s transition to electric vehicles,” he said in a statement.
“While the impact of these policies will become more apparent throughout 2022- 23, we are encouraging more Aussies to make the switch for a more sustainable future, by making EV an easy and accessible choice.
“We want to help accelerate the switch to EVs by removing the barriers and contribute to lasting, systematic change – from finance to infrastructure and beyond.”
While many EV owners are not likely to power the entirety of their annual drives on a public fast-charger, it’s nice to know the option is there. For other drivers who don’t have access to charging at home, using public fast-chargers is one of few options to top up batteries.
And at 60 cents per kilowatt-hour for Evie Network’s 350kW chargers, it is certainly going to help save some dollars.
“The Pepper Money EV loan offer will ensure that customers have added comfort on the road to charge at our convenient and quality locations,” said Evie Networks head of sales and marketing, Geoff Brady in a statement.
“All electricity delivered through Evie’s charging sites is 100% accredited GreenPower procured from renewable generators in the market. We’re committed to a vision to ensure every home is no more than 5km from a reliable public fast-charging EV station,” he added.
Evie Networks currently operates 77 charging locations in Australia, 19 of which are 350kW ultra-rapid chargers
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.