To meet this need Ausgrid is partnering with industry, government and regulators to trial new ways to explore how we can provide more localised kerbside electric vehicle (EV) charging, utilising our existing kiosks and power poles.

We estimate around 800,000 customers in our network area have limited opportunities to charge their vehicle at home. This can be due to a lack of off-street parking, prohibitive costs, rental agreements or strata restrictions. Which makes public EV charging solutions like kerbside charging, an important part of supporting the electrification of transport.

Leveraging existing assets for a faster, fairer and more seamless solution

Ausgrid have over 440,000 power poles across our network. We estimate there is a need for 11,000 kerbside chargers in our network to create accessible access to charging.
Pole and substation mounted EV systems avoid the need to dig up the road, helping to deliver public EV charging faster, at lower cost, with less disruption to the community and less clutter on the footpath.

This innovative approach can play a real role in supporting our community to have access to EV charging infrastructure in residential areas.

How do they work?

People wishing to use a charger simply pull up and using their own Type 2 charging cable connect directly to the charger. Payment can be made via an app or RFID token.

As these chargers are slower AC chargers from 7 up to 22kW they are suitable for longer charging intervals or overnight charging.

In the longer term we’re working on solutions that make payment even more seamless. For example, like residential energy bills, this would be automatic and your car’s use would be billed for its use depending on where, and for how long, it was plugged in.

Ausgrid would like to partner with government, regulators, the community and industry with the goal of making this vision a reality, and dependant on regulatory reform. Find out more about partnership opportunities.