Power pole charging for electric vehicles coming to Sydney’s inner city

By DALE BARRETT

Sydney’s inner city will soon see a major win for drivers of electric vehicles (EVs), as several Sydney councils have been selected to participate in a trial of power pole charging stations. The trial will benefit drivers of EVs who only have access to on-street parking. 

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing funding for NSW local councils to install 50 EV chargers on power poles across 9 local government areas.  The inner city councils of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and the Inner West are all participants in the trial, meaning the charging stations will be rolled out across Sydney’s inner suburbs.

Sam McGuiness, Acting Director of Planning and Sustainability and Compliance at Waverley Council, said that it is “vital” that infrastructure is available to support renewable energy options.

“Electric vehicles enable a pathway for our community to achieve net zero sooner. Providing public EV charging points will be particularly important for residents who have no off-street parking” McGuiness said.

Trial to address current charging issues

The trial aims to remedy the 1.9 million Australian households that don’t currently have access to off-street parking facilities, making it difficult to access EV charging. 

ARENA CEO Wes Ballantine said “it’s expected that as many as 10% of new car sales in Australia will be electric vehicles by 2025″. 

The trial also seeks to address safety concerns in regard to Australians who are currently required to deploy extension cords over footpaths (which are not visible or controllable by network operators) in order to charge their vehicles. 

“Power poles line most of our public streets and that presents an opportunity for the EV charging market. They’re an accessible, safe, and practical option for EV charging,” Ballantine said. 

Complementing the benefits of this trial is the convenience it grants EV owners. Drivers will be able to use an app to manage their charging and access information regarding their charging costs, time restraints and billing.  

The trial is set to be overseen by researchers who will observe how many people access the charging stations, as well as its subsequent impact on electricity systems. 

ARENA aims to “remove some of the last barriers stopping people from entering the EV market” and could result in people opting for electric over fossil fuel powered vehicles. 

The nine local councils set to participate in the trial include Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick, Lake Macquarie, Ryde, Singleton, Parramatta, Northern Beaches and Inner West local councils.