Big-box retailer Costco has flagged it plans to install up to 20 electric vehicle chargers at a new site in Melbourne’s west.
The membership-only retail chain includes electric vehicle chargers at a number of its superstores in the US, including in California, Utah, Virginia, New Jersey, and San Diego.
Now, a new Melbourne site purchased by the retail giant may join the EV charging pack.
Planning permits for the new $62 million warehouse situated at 40 Ballarat Road, Aldeer site (15km west of the Melbourne CBD) submitted in May with Brimbank council show provision for a bank of electric vehicle chargers, alongside staff parking.
Although the site has been earmarked for 20 electric car chargers, Costco is not giving up on selling fossil fuels just yet. Also on the 14,000sqm site will be a petrol station alongside 800 car park space, and a tyre centre.
The site will join 13 Costco sites currently open in Australia, as well as a 14th slated to open in Casuarina, Perth, in November. There are also plans to open a new 14,000sqm site in Coomera, Queensland costing $75 million adjacent to Westfield Coomera.
It’s not entirely clear at this stage what type of electric vehicle chargers are being considered at the site. A mix of DC fast-chargers and AC destination-style chargers would likely suit the site, allowing for visits ranging from 15 minutes up to an hour or more.
Neither is it certain that they will in fact be installed at this time. A spokesperson for the company in Australia told The Driven that there are no firm plans yet for installing EV chargers at Costco sites.
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.