'Time is now' for charging expansion as EV buzz builds
As electric-vehicle sales rise across Australia, industry voices are urging an urgent expansion of public charging infrastructure, ABC News Australia reports. Persistent gaps in regional and rural charging networks are slowing investment commitments, the report says. The federal government is re-examining its incentive structure.
Annual EV sales growth in Australia exceeding 40% has reinforced industry calls to accelerate investment in the public charging network, ABC News Australia reports. The main obstacle to bigger investor projects is described as persistent gaps along intercity routes and in rural areas, where station coverage is thin.
The Electric Vehicle Council says the existing number of public fast-charging points needs to at least double over the next three years. The industry is urging the federal government to anchor its incentive budget to a more predictable multi-year schedule, citing project planning needs.
The federal Climate and Energy Department says it is re-examining the current support mechanisms and is preparing a new joint implementation plan with state governments. Incoming investors are tracking grid-connection lead times and the certification standards for fast-charging hardware as the two most decisive variables shaping their commitments.
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