Image Credit: Jolt
Jolt, one of Australia’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) charging networks says customer registrations surged to a record high in the month of March, at the same time as national EV sales also jumped to claim a record share of the market.
New Jolt customer registrations for March increased by 54.4 per cent month-on-month, the company says, with customers indicating that economics are driving the shift to EVs, with seven out of ten EV drivers citing lower running costs as their top reason for going electric.
“More Australians than ever are going electric, and the shift is gaining momentum,” said Doug McNamee, Jolt CEO.
“The cost savings on EV ownership are real and they’re exceeding expectations. As public charging infrastructure becomes more accessible, the practical case for going electric gets stronger every month.”
According to Jolt’s customer survey data, while nearly half of survey respondents also own a petrol vehicle alongside their EV, 59 per cent of these customers say that they are planning to replace it with another EV within three years.
But a lack of access to charging stations remains a key barrier to transitioning to an EV for many, a barrier that Jolt is working hard to mitigate and overcome.
Currently, Jolt’s charging network spans Australia’s four major cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide – and its stations are located in retail, dining, and lifestyle precincts. And chief operating officer Vicki Slavina says the company is looking to expand its network, which is supported by large advertising displays.
“The EV market in Australia is maturing faster than most people anticipated, and the pipeline of new models and new buyers suggests we’re still in the early chapters of that story,” she said.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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I suspect that Blackrock will be working up to a float pretty soon to realize the return on their $100 million investment.
It would also be an opportunity for Jolt to use the current chaos to raise some serious cash to fund their rollout.
Get 'em while they're hot.
1. Jolt chargers are generally the worst and most awkward parking places imaginable.
2. Having only one charger per location and sometimes pre-booked (without any indication) makes going to a Jolt charger a long odds bet - with the 7 kWh free the payout. Please install more chargers per site and have at least one of them not booked.
3. At least Jolt supports Chademo, that a lot of us early adopters still need for Nissan Leaf and others, while Evie and Amp charge are abandoning us.
4. The high usage and rapid turnover at Jolt chargers, providing only 25 kW, shows that there could be equally high demand for the similarity high 22 kW type 2 AC chargers - which also provide cheaper local charging than the ludicrous speed DC chargers expected on motorways. All EVs should be 22 kW AC capable.