First kerbside EV chargers arrive in NSW holiday destination

Sydney-based EV infrastructure company EVX has partnered with Essential Energy to extend its rollout of kerbside EV chargers to the holiday destination of Hawks Nest on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.

The kerbside charger is part of a trial between the two companies designed to assess the feasibility of installing these chargers on Essential Energy-owned power poles across regional New South Wales.

The single pole-mounted kerbside AC dual 22kW charger (total 44kW) can charge two EVs at the same time and is able to add between 47km and 93km of range in an hour, depending on the car – though standing time is limited to two hours.

EVX hopes that these kerbside EV chargers will help to supplement EV charging hubs by allowing people to charge while at their destination when stopped for an hour or more.

The Hawks Nest kerbside charger is located close to both the Reflections Holiday Parks and Ocean Side Hawks Nest hotels.

“EV-driving locals and tourists visiting this region are increasing, but the rate at which new public chargers are being built is not keeping up with the volume of new EVs on the road,” Andrew Forster, CEO of EVX.

EV owners looking to use the EVX kerbside charger will need to bring their own standard Type 2 charging cable. Status of the charger can be monitored on the EVX app, though they cannot be pre-booked. Costs are charged at $0.50/kWh.

EVX has already partnered Ausgrid with installations in the City of Newcastle and the City of Sydney.

Such pole-mounted kerbside chargers can be installed on existing utility poles and have a low impact on the local electricity grid, utilising AC charging with smart charging capabilities. This also means that charging points can be easily added without the need for major civil infrastructure works.

“Having EV infrastructure readily available will be a game-changer for both residents of Hawks Nest and its visitors,” said MidCoast Council Mayor, Claire Pontin.

“These kerbside destination chargers will not only service the many locals who are becoming part of the global shift to EVs but also support our thriving tourism sector into the future as more people rely on EVs to travel longer distances.”