Jet charge raises $3.3m to expand Melbourne HQ, boost EV charger production

Australian electric vehicle infrastructure company Jet Charge has announced plans to expand its national headquarters in Melbourne, after securing $3.3 million from private and public investors including the Victorian state government.

In a joint announcement with the Labor Andrews government, Jet Charge says it will use the funds to create 73 new high-skilled jobs in electronics, engineering and logistics at its Fisherman’s Bend HQ, to boost R&D and production of EV chargers.

“Expanding our operations in Victoria means we can continue to grow and develop our products, manufacturing electric vehicle chargers for more people across Australia and New Zealand,” said Jet Charge CEO and founder Tim Washington.

Victoria’s minister for industry support, Ben Carroll, said the government’s support for Jet Charge – amounts could not be disclosed – came from its $100 million Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Roadmap.

“We’re backing innovative manufacturers to develop world class products here that help us continue to lead the nation on climate action, while creating more local jobs as we transition to a low carbon economy,” Carroll said.

A local EV success story

Established in Melbourne in 2013, Jet Charge has been going from strength to strength as a provider of EV charging infrastructure and technologies.

The company operates across Australia and New Zealand and is the preferred charging infrastructure provider for property developers, energy providers and a total of 24 EV brands, including Nissan, with more than 10,000 charging stations installed across Australia.

Earlier this year, Jet Charge raised more than $25 million in a financing round, including $6 million tipped in by the federal government’s green bank, to help meet the “challenges and opportunities” of growing EV uptake in Australia.

The Series B funding round was led by RACV with backing from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) via the Clean Energy Innovation Fund, and Claremont Capital, in addition to further support from $4.5 million Series A investors Greg Roebuck, founder of Carsales.com.au, and climate tech investor Simon Monk.

Charging ahead

In August, Jet Charge won a contract with the Western Australia government to install 98 EV chargers at 49 locations around the state which, when completed, will serve to create the world’s longest continuously connected electric highway.

Each of the WA charging locations will be fitted with a standard charger and a 150kW DC fast charger, the latter allowing EV drivers to top their car up in as little as 15 minutes.

This year has also seen Jet Charge announced a collaboration with Middy’s Electrical to roll out the Wallbox range of EV chargers to Australian homes and businesses.