Electric Vehicle Chargers in Australia
It’s safe to say that buying electric cars is more than just a fad. Since its introduction to the Australian market, electric vehicles (EVs) have been increasingly popular. With the exponential growth of EVs comes the infrastructure to support it. Charging stations have been and are continuing to be built all over Australia.
EV charging locations in Australia: What's happening now?
According to the latest report from the Electric Vehicle Commission, electric vehicles in Australia are set to exceed 300,000 by early 2025. Electric vehicles accounted for 9.5% of all new car sales in Australia in 2024, which is a 150% increase in market share compared to just two years ago in 2022.
It's no wonder that EV charging infrastructures are working to keep pace. Recently, the ACT government achieved its goal of installing 180 charging stations. Canberra EV motorists now have access to over 250 individual charging bays across the state.
The number of individual high-power public EV chargers in service is around 1,849 as of mid-2024. Meanwhile, high-power public charging locations were at 1,059. This marks an astounding 90% in high-power charging locations compared to the previous year.
More and more charging stations are being built nationwide to match the rapidly growing demand. As of writing, there are an estimated 3,000 public charging points in the country.
Plans for new EV fast charger stations are estimated for 2025
The rollout of fast charging and ultra-fast charging stations in Australia is gaining speed, mostly in cities. But soon, motorists could see more charging stations in regional areas thanks to the efforts of federal, state, and local governments, as well as private investments and partnerships.
Under the third round of the Fast Charging Infrastructure program, the NSW state government has been granted $16.1 million in grants, which will be used to roll out 300 new fast charging ports at 103 locations.
Co-investment from industry partners such as BP, Evie, Tesla, and the NRMA backed the project and is part of the broader strategy to deliver more than a thousand fast charging bays by 2025. Overall, the NSW government says it will commit $149 million towards the strategy.
Recently, BB Pulse, BP’s EV charging brand, has announced plans to install 600 more charge points in Australia by 2025. This is part of international plans to install 100,000 charge points globally by 2030.
Fast and ultra-fast charging stations, state-by-state
Each charging location contains multiple charging stations, bays, or points. One charging location is capable of charging several electric vehicles at once. The table below does not include all available charging stations.
| State | Fast | Ultra-Fast | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 15 | 8 | 23 |
| New South Wales | 186 | 108 | 294 |
| Northern Territory | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Queensland | 140 | 52 | 192 |
| South Australia | 48 | 70 | 118 |
| Tasmania | 39 | 6 | 45 |
| Victoria | 194 | 74 | 268 |
| Western Australia | 49 | 58 | 107 |
| Australia | 680 | 379 | 1,059 |
Source: State of Electric Vehicles 2024, Electric Vehicle Commission
New South Wales has the most fast and ultra-fast charger stations with 294, while Northern Territory has the least with 12, but it’s still a notable improvement from 6 the previous year. Some states and territories may have more than others. The urban areas may have significantly more EV charging locations than rural areas.
Understanding EV charging stations
Here's a quick overview of the different charging stations and where you can find them.
Types of charging stations
Electric vehicle charging stations in Australia have three levels or modes. Each has a corresponding voltage and charging speed. Here's an overview of the main types of charging stations:
- Level 1/Model 2: This is also known as a slow charging station and could add 10km to 20km of range per hour. It's usually used with a specialised cable supplied with the electric car. This type of charging station can be seen in standalone homes. It's ideal for topping up your EV, but won't fully recharge it overnight.
- Level 2/Mode 3: This is classified as fast charging with a dedicated AC EV charger. Charging with a level 2 station could add 40km to 100km of range per hour; it varies per electric vehicle. It can deliver a full recharge when left overnight. These charging stations can be found in residences, apartment complexes, hotels, and workplaces.
- Level 3/Mode 4: These charging stations are considered rapid charging. They are dedicated DC EV chargers with power levels ranging from 25kW to 350kW. These are mostly found in roadside charging stations or commercial premises. Ultra-fast charging stations can fully recharge some electric cars in 15 minutes or less.
Charging times also depend on the kind of electric vehicle you own. Smaller electric vehicles like sedans and hatchbacks charge quicker than bigger ones like SUVs and vans, regardless of the charging station.
Charging station networks in Australia
Motorists have a lot of options when it comes to where they can charge their electric vehicles. Here are the major charging networks in Australia and where they're located:
- Tesla Supercharger Station - Tesla has over 60 charging locations across New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory.
- BP Pulse - BP Charging Stations has around 15 locations in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
- AMP Charge - With over five locations, Ampol Charging Stations can be found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Evie Networks - The second largest EV charging network in the country, with over 200 stations. Found in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia
- Charge Fox Charging Station - You can find the 450 Charge Fox stations across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
- NRMA Charging Station - These charging stations can be found on major roads in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
- Jolt - This charging network has around 35 stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
- Charging point - There are Charging point stations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The charging stations range from regular to ultra-fast charging. More populated cities typically have more fast and ultra-fast charging stations on major roads. You can find the nearest online using websites like Plugshare.
The cost of EV charging in Australia
Charging fees vary depending on the supplier, location, electric vehicle, and duration. Usually, EV charging can cost around $0.50/kWh at DC charging stations.
AC Charging Stations
AC charging stations have a power of 2.3kW to 22kW. There are free AC charging stations, but paid ones cost around $0.40 to $0.70 per kWh. These charging stations are usually found in car parks or shopping centres and are great for a quick top-up.
DC Charging Stations
DC fast chargers are becoming more common in Australia. These have a power of around 50kW to 300kW and cost roughly $0.60 to $1.00 per kWh. Although a bit more expensive than the AC charging station, they offer faster charging times. Most charging networks like Tesla, Chargefox, Evie Networks, and NRMA networks offer DC fast charging stations.
Home charging cost
Charging at home is considered the cheaper option than going to charging stations. It all depends on the average electricity costs in your area.
Even if home charging costs less per kWh, you need to include upfront installation costs when considering affordability. Wall chargers typically cost between $550 to $2,125 depending on the brand.
If you're installing a level 1 charging station at home, you can use the standard outlet within the house. However, if you don't have any outlets in your garage, you'll need to get one installed, which could cost around $200 to $1,000.
A level 2 charging station, on the other hand, could cost somewhere from $600 to $2,500 plus an installation fee of $500 to $1,500. This type of charging station is more powerful and can recharge your electric vehicle much more quickly.
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