Up to 20 residents in Melbourne’s inner-north will trial an innovative boom-mounted electric vehicle (EV) charging solution that aims to provide home-to-street charging while keeping footpaths accessible and free from tripping hazards.
The trial has been approved by the local Merri-bek City Council, covering suburbs in Melbourne’s inner-north, who have heard from local residents that the lack of off-street parking had been acting as a barrier to potential EV ownership.
Merri-bek City Council has partnered with Vehicles Charging Solutions Australia (VCSA), who have developed a retractable boom that can be installed in the front garden and runs a charging cable well above the footpath.
The VCS One boom-mounted charging solution avoids the need for cutting footpaths or installing underground lines and is obviously much quicker and easier to install.
Residents of Merri-bek who are interested in participating can express their interest to participate in the trial here, but there are some restrictions: Successful applicants will not have off-street parking and the property owner is the one who must apply to participate.
The first stage of the trial is also restricted to properties that do not fall inside a Heritage Overlay, though these property owners can still express interest to participate in future stages of the trial.
https://youtu.be/4qpytOI7uU0?si=d121zTsuhA26wuKv
VCSA hopes to install its boom-mounted EV chargers in more locations but is currently restricted by requiring specific local government approvals. Once VCSA secures approval from a local council and safety regulator, the company is able to offer installations for that area.
Ross de Rango, a director of VCSA, says the company is looking at opportunities to expand into other local government areas.
“If … you think this solution might work for you, please drop your details into the form on our website. We’ll be expanding into other Local Government Areas as fast as we get permission – and a list of interested local residents will help us secure that permission!” he wrote on LinkedIn.
The cost of installing a VCS One post and boom is priced at between $2,000 and $3,000 and includes the supply and installation of the post and boom, a 15-metre EV charging cable, and a live system test. The price does not include any necessary electrical work to provide an external power point, but VCSA is able to provide this service for additional cost.
This trial builds on the council’s previous efforts to foster the adoption of zero emission vehicles. Merri-Bek was the first Victorian council to install a fast charger back in 2013 and has subsequently installed 22 public EV chargers and a further 12 at council sites. The council also trialled hydrogen vehicles and currently operates a fleet of 30 EVs and 7 ebikes.
The Merri-bek council said that it would continue to install new public chargers given how popular they are – performing around 100 charging sessions a day across its entire portfolio of chargers.
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.