Scramble to roll out DC fast chargers, even pole chargers, before the holiday rush

EV charging networks are scrambling to complete some key fast-charging facilities ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday rush, which will no doubt feature some of the 80,000 new EVs that have been added to Australian roads already this year.

Tesla has been busy with the opening of the country’s biggest EV charging facility at Albury (scene of lengthy queues last Christmas), and has also just opened a new 12-bay facility at Port Macquarie, another pinch point in recent holiday peaks. (It is not clear whether all these bays will be open in time for Christmas).

Tesla is also getting its new Supercharging stations at Tweed Heads ready, and further north has just opened its most northerly facility in Australia at Rockhampton. Evie Networks says it has opened 15 new charging sites in December alone, bringing its total for the year to more than 100.,

The NRMA, meanwhile, has opened its first 150kW fast charging station in Mittagong in NSW, using a standard 27kW connection to the grid, backed up by battery banks.

NRMA says this means that the unit can be deployed without significant upgrades to the grid, reducing the time required to establish electric vehicle charging in locations where power supply is an issue.  NRMA is rolling out 117 chargers across the National Highway Network in partnership with the federal government.

In Wollongong, the city’s first pole mounted EV chargers have been installed by EVX, in cop-operation with the  Wollongong City Council and Endeavour Energy.

Five pole-mounted electric vehicle chargers have been deployed at Wollongong’s George Street, Victoria Street and Cliff Road as well as Austinmer Tennis Courts and Railway Parade in Thirroul – with more expected to come.

“The new kerbside infrastructure will help provide Wollongong’s rapidly rising EV drivers with an easier way to charge up away from home,” the council says.

“The number of EVs on Wollongong’s roads has almost quadrupled since 2021 while the region ranks in the top 10 per cent of the country when it comes to new EV registrations.

In Sydney, Chargefox says it has just a new facility at Woolworths in North Parramatta that will feature four 200kW Kempower DC chargers ad four 7kW JET Charge Chargemate plugs.

And, on the Nullabor, EV clubs and advocates have banded together to ensure the installation of a Delta 22kW DC charger at the Nullarbor Roadhouse in South Australia.

The new charging option will help reduce a charging bottleneck on the journey across the Nullarbor Plain for the many EV owners keen to make the drive this Xmas.

Meanwhile, a reminder about good behaviour at EV charging sites during the holiday period: “Don’t take matters into your own hands:” NRMA urges good behaviour at EV chargers over Christmas