EV uptake in Australia has gone from strength to strength with over 50,000 EVs being added in 2024 alone. Charging all of these new EVs and the existing fleet will need a lot of chargers across the country.
New data from EV data company carloop shows that there are now 1,011 active fast-charging sites across the country, marking a major milestone in Australia’s transition to electric cars.
These sites now account for nearly 2,000 individual DC fast chargers with speeds of 25 kW all the way up to 350 kW.
Further breakdown of these chargers shows that there are now 3,070 fast-charger plugs available for EV drivers to use. These include CCS and CHAdeMO-type plugs.
CCS is now the dominant charging plug type, accounting for 70.4% of all public fast-charger plugs nationwide.
The data also reveals that the number of active fast-charging sites in Australia has risen by 74% from June 2023 when there were just 581 sites.
By December 2023, the number of sites had risen to over 800, making it easier for many EV drivers to get around over the Christmas and New Year break.
“Australia has a pretty good coverage of fast chargers now, from Broadmeadows to Broome and almost everywhere in between,” said Dr Chris Jones, the President of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) that represents EV drivers across Australia.
“Many newcomers to EVs are generally surprised to learn how extensive the charging infrastructure actually is, because it can be deployed in many locations that don’t necessarily leap out at you.”
On top of that, the range in EVs has also improved significantly over the past few years with most newer models offering over 300 km of real-world range.
Some even push this to over 500 km and that’s only expected to improve with developments in battery technology. New popular EVs like the entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD boasts 513 km of WLTP range. This variant offered around 450 km of WLTP range just a few years ago.
In recent months, Australia’s fast-charging network is continuing to see growth. Tesla, Evie Networks, NRMA, RAA, WA EV Network (on Chargefox) and others are continuing to roll out more sites, helping EV drivers travel further.
The state and federal governments are also playing their role with some states like NSW leading the charge and investing heavily into public charging infrastructure while others need a bit more of a push to support drivers looking at making the switch.
That’s also just what’s needed with another 50,000 EVs expected to make it onto our roads before Christmas this year. One thing is for sure, all these EVs will need a charge.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.