Commuters at selected locations across Sydney will be able to charge their electric vehicles, as part of the rollout of up to 50 chargers at transport hubs.
Transport for NSW Acting Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Kurt Brissett said through an agreement with Australian owned charge point provider JOLT, a fast EV charger has been switched on at Penrith commuter car park, with Cronulla and Oatley chargers to be delivered in coming weeks.
“These chargers will offer commuters a simple top-up option at train stations and other hubs, and we’re confident they’ll be very popular,” Mr Brissett said.
“It is important that we do what we can to support the transition to electric vehicles and encourage public transport use where possible.
“In the last year, EV registrations have risen more than 150 per cent on average across NSW and more than tripled in Penrith. We hope making it easier for drivers to top up charge as part of their commute will encourage this transition.”
JOLT offers drivers a free 7kWh top-up for electric vehicles, or up to approximately 45 kilometres worth of fast charging every day, which takes about 17 minutes, depending on your car.
The chargers use certified GreenPower, meaning they deliver energy directly from renewable sources or through certified offsets and will be a convenient way for drivers to top their charge up for free.
Once users have reached the 7kWh, a cost of $0.46 will apply for each subsequent kilowatt hour. An idle fee of $1.00 per minute is charged to vehicles still plugged in and occupying the space but no longer charging.
Mr Brissett said dozens of fast chargers will be rolled out as part of this agreement over the coming months at commuter car parks and other locations convenient to commuters.
“Motorists across NSW already have access to more than 820 public charging stations, however, these can often be far apart or can take hours to fully charge a standard electric vehicle,” Mr Brissett said.
“Rolling out the JOLT charging network will give motorists confidence knowing that they can quickly top their charge up when and where they need to.”
JOLT CEO Doug McNamee said the roll out of Transport for NSW chargers represents a fantastic expansion of JOLT’s growing number of locations.
“These state-of-the art, fast and free for 7kWh charging stations introduce a gamechanging solution for EV users, resulting in significant cost savings, and allowing them to travel more freely,” Mr McNamee said.
“By using JOLT’s free charging top-ups, EV drivers could save more than $1,000 per year on their charging expenses, making EV ownership even more attractive to people looking for convenient, sustainable, and cost-effective transport choices.
“We’re really encouraging Australians to embrace EV technology, particularly as cost-of living pressures continue to rise.”
The NSW Government has invested $250,000 into the JOLT charger partnership, in addition to $209 million worth of EV infrastructure funding delivered as part of the NSW Government EV strategy.
To find out more about electric vehicles, including charging locations, visit: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/electric-vehicles