Regional EV charger grants worth $10 million on offer

Almost 90,000 new EVs hit the road in Australia last year. A new round of funding is open to help the regional tourism industry benefit by addressing one common question from EV owners: can I charge my car here? 

Electric vehicle uptake is on the rise; seven per cent of the new car market in 2023 were pure electric vehicles (EVs). 

With almost 90,000 new EVs hitting the road in the last year alone, more and more people are now setting out on all-electric road trips. 

For businesses in the tourism industry there is an opportunity, if they can meet the oft-asked question head-on from visitors: “Can I charge my car here?" 

A new funding round from the NSW state government is already helping businesses make welcoming EV owners easier. 

It says that 167 businesses have already taken advantage of its electric vehicle destination charging grants, with 464 plugs now being installed under the grant. 

The latest funding round worth $10 million is now available for eligible businesses. 

What does the NSW EV destination charging grant fund? 

The Department of Energy says it will fund 75 per cent of the cost of up to four 7kW or 22kW chargers per site, as well as 75 per cent of the cost of installation (maximum $3000 per plug).  

It will also fund 75 per cent of the cost of a subscription to charging management software for the first 12 months. 

Who is eligible for the NSW EV destination charging grant? 

Accommodation, attractions, event venues, hospitality, leisure, and tour businesses are eligible if they are located in a NSW local government area, and do not have more than four charging ports already installed. 

This includes anything from galleries and wineries to adventure and sightseeing tours, market and concert venues, community event venues and even cooking schools.  

They must also be registered with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), and the full list of business types can be viewed in this guidelines document. 

What your business needs to consider 

First and foremost, eligible businesses would be wise to consider how long it takes an EV to charge, and therefore for how long visitors would need to take up a car space. 

All EVs can charge at a rate of 7kW on an AC charger, adding around 40km to the battery for every hour it is plugged in. This means EVs needing 200km range would be plugged in for around five hours (longer if they need to charge to 100 per cent.) 

A 22kW charger, on the other hand, will add around 130km driving range per hour it is plugged in. 

However, not all EVs can charge at 22kW, as this depends on its on-board hardware. Also, 22kW chargers require a three-phase connection; they can be connected to single-phase but will then operate as a 7kW charger. 

If your business location does not already have a three-phase connection, this cost can be included in the installation portion of the grant, capped at $3000 per charge port. 

Also consider where chargers could be installed, including some flexibility if site configurations require changes. Lastly, consider the lead times required for installation and connections. 

How to apply for the NSW EV destination charging grant 

To apply for the grant, read the EV destination charger grant guidelines to ensure your business is eligible, and to discover more information such as which hardware and software providers are approved for funding. Applications close on May 3, 2024.