Cash for chargers as EVs soar

The new-vehicle industry across the ditch has welcomed AU$12.5 million (NZ$13.5m) in grants being dished out to help build more electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Western Australia.

The state government has announced the funding under round two of its Charge Up Workplace EV grant programme, which supports not for-profits, small and medium businesses, and local government authorities to purchase and install an EV charger.

It is hoped the cash will help maximise daytime EV charging, promote off-peak charging and support the conversion to EV fleets. 

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says the continued investment in charging infrastructure is critical to supporting the rising number of EVs, which have accounted for more than six per cent of new-vehicle sales in Western Australia so far this year.

It also recently lauded similar efforts by state governments to improve charging options across New South Wales and Queensland.

Queensland's government has allocated AU$42m towards the installation of 2,500 EV chargers over the next three years, 2,000 of these will be for the use of the government fleet.

Meanwhile, New South Wales politicians have dished out AU$10m in grants to retrofit more than 100 apartment buildings with EV charging stations.