14 December 2021

ACT will need up to 1000 public EV chargers by 2030, says new outlook

| Ian Bushnell
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Electric vehicle charger

Charging up: public chargers will be needed for many apartment dwellers and visitors to the ACT. Photo: James Coleman.

The ACT will need at least 600 to 1000 public charging stations by 2030 to support the shift to electric vehicles, mainly where charging can’t be done at home, according to a new government outlook pitched at attracting private sector providers.

The Electric Vehicle Charging Outlook released on Monday (13 December) spruiks a substantial investment opportunity for investors and details where public charging stations will be needed most in the ACT as the number of EVs steadily increases.

It says the number of EVs registered in the ACT is expected to be between 25,000 and 42,000 in 2030, up from nearly 1500 in 2021, growing by around 2600 vehicles a year.

The share of new vehicle sales is expected to increase from 2 per cent in 2021 to at least 30 per cent in 2030 as the average price of EVs declines and more models become available.

The government has committed to building 50 new public charging stations across the ACT in 2022 and is seeking expressions of interest from providers but it is looking to the private sector to do the heavy lifting in developing a charging network.

The outlook says public chargers will be needed most in the suburbs with a high proportion of apartments without access to dedicated off-street parking or home chargers, particularly Civic and the town centres.

READ MORE Is the hybrid a quick-fix for Australia’s current EV issues?

By 2030, one-third of chargers (more than 200) are expected to be in Civic, followed by Braddon, Belconnen, Phillip and Barton, which combined will contribute to more than half of the EV energy use in the ACT.

Based on charging needs and electricity network constraints, the highest priority suburbs for public charging investment are: 1. Braddon 2. Civic 3. Kingston 4. Belconnen 5. Phillip 6. Griffith 7. Turner 8. Bruce 9. Lyneham 10. Campbell 11. Barton 12. Garran 13. Gungahlin 14. Franklin 15. Harrison 16. Narrabundah 17. Kambah 18. Mawson 19. Curtin 20. Ngunnawal 21. Dickson 22. Casey 23. Greenway 24. Deakin 25. Ainslie.

Minister for Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said that the outlook provided the industry with information on expected trends in electric vehicle uptake, population density and electricity grid capability to help make efficient and strategic investment decisions in the ACT’s growing charging network.

“Canberrans are serious about climate action, so it is no surprise that the number of electric cars registered in Canberra has doubled in the past year, with around 750 more electric cars on ACT roads,” Mr Rattenbury said.

READ MORE Government pushes button on zero-interest loans for zero-emission EVs

The government wants industry and investors to use this outlook to help them deliver charging infrastructure as convenient as possible.

“The charging outlook sends a strong signal that the ACT is ready to receive further investment in our charging network to support the transition to electric vehicles,” he said.

Mr Rattenbury said efficient and reliable chargers would help ease ‘range anxiety’ for those considering purchasing an electric vehicle, as well as for visitors to the region.

“In particular, the outlook focuses on making sure we meet the charging needs of people living in apartments,” he said. “While some apartment buildings will be able to accommodate EV charging, others may not.”

Last week the government boosted EV incentives with the opening of applications for Canberrans to access zero-interest loans for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, on top of two years’ free registration and stamp duty exemption for new vehicles, which are already available

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Capital Retro9:46 pm 14 Dec 21

According to one article written earlier this year, users of public charge points currently pay from $0.40 to $0.45 per kWh, while users of the Tesla network of 40+ supercharging points scattered around Australia pay 52c per kWh! To put this in perspective, a ‘full tank of power’ for a Tesla S will cost around $50, or close to what you’re currently paying for a full tank of petrol, and this is before any rises or levies have occurred. Since road\fuel taxes comprise one third of the price of petrol, and since Australia doesn’t currently have significant taxes on electricity, the current low cost of power is unlikely to remain.

Hint for you as to the reasons for those prices should be the word “Supercharging”.

Hmmm, now why would you pay more for something that has significantly greater capacity and can charge your batteries in a few minutes?

Typical charging costs would be half that price because most of the time you would be charging at home.

Capital Retro8:10 am 15 Dec 21

I was merely posting an article which I thought would be of interest but thanks for your opinions.

Except you didn’t post any article. But thanks for your opinions.

Capital Retro, I just checked prices. After a supermarket discount, at various prices now quoted around town, $50 will buy just 26-29 litres of 98 or 95, a very long way from “close to what you are paying for a full tank of petrol” even for a small sedan let alone some popular follies.

OpenYourMind4:54 pm 15 Dec 21

Most EV owners fill up at home for next to nothing – especially if they have solar panels. The charge process takes no more than 10 seconds….all you do is plug in.

Capital Retro5:42 pm 15 Dec 21

As I tried to point out, I didn’t write the article but let’s all join in the pile-on anyhow.

How far will a “full tank of power” get a Tesla, about 300km? My efficient 2L turbo petrol powered car will go 300km on 30 litres ($50) of fuel.

Capital Retro6:05 pm 15 Dec 21

When you say “next to nothing” are you factoring in the tax-payer funded subsidies received when they purchased their solar systems?

And “the charge process” takes about 10 hours, not 10 seconds at home and it has to be when the sun is shining if solar power is involved.

Capital Retro,
The Tesla S that you referenced above has a range of around 550kms on a full charge.

So thanks for showing us that your calculations were way off, your $50 is now $90+ worth of petrol using the fuel efficiency you’ve provided above.

Compared to a home charged Tesla cost of around $23.

Capital Retro, while you did not write the article (which you have yet to link for others’ consideration), you used the hook to display errors of analysis.
Your estimate of $50 @ 52¢/km implies a charge of ~95 KWh in a 100 kWh battery (largest available for an S, and Li battery charging is highly efficient). Do you really wait until you have ~3L left before refuelling your ICE? Could be awkward.
However, a fully charged Tesla S (the vehicle you first mentioned) has an EPA range averaging 600 Km, not 300 Km. So, a half charge to do your 300 Km would cost $25 using supercharging, cheaper otherwise. This is half as much as you say you pay, not even close to comparably bad.
Perhaps not so much a pile-on by others as a pile-under by you?

Capital Retro6:04 am 16 Dec 21

The article quotes prices for electricity @ around $0.50c per kWh from Tesla supercharging points around Australia not the charging at home rate.

Capital Retro,
You still haven’t linked any article, so why do I care what you say it says?

As I’ve explained to you, the Supercharging points cost more literally because of the charging capacity required to provide them.

But they are only valuable to people on longer trips or those who need a quick charge.

Most charging is going to occur at home or a private residence, so the domestic rate is far more relevant to compare.

There is still no point in owning a EV until the range improves and the charging can be done as quick as filling up at a servo. I will need to purchase a second petrol car so I can go on my frequent trips away. It’s ok for the government fleet to be all EV because they only operate locally and have bottomless funds to install as many charging points as they need.

The government needs to address this instead of ignoring the problems so those other than the blind rusted on green voters can get excited about the future too.

Plug-in hybrids are an obvious best of both world solution during the transition period.

And what exactly do you think Government is going to effectively do that can impact on the range of an EV?

There are a couple of big stumbling blocks in the way of Mr Rattenbury’s grand vision.
Firstly, climate awareness is one thing, paying the huge price difference between the cost of an EV and the equivalent ICE is a whole other matter. This little duck isn’t going to fall for the $15,000 “interest free’ loan to help fund the purchase. You still have to repay the principal.

Secondly, 1200 EV charging points in priority suburbs won’t achieve much unless there is a reliable network of charging stations outside of the ACT.

I can imagine it now, all these people in the priority suburbs driving around the ACT in their EVs, then getting into their ICEs to go to the coast on the weekend.

Capital Retro6:48 pm 14 Dec 21

Given that Kambah was top of the list for mortgage stress a few years ago it defies any logic why that suburb is a priority for EV chargers given that EV owners have to be wealthy to afford their toys.

https://the-riotact.com/canberra-southside-suburbs-top-mortgage-stress-list/185382

“I can imagine it now, all these people in the priority suburbs driving around the ACT in their EVs, then getting into their ICEs to go to the coast on the weekend.”

I don’t really see why this would be a bad thing. There are currently around 1.8 cars per household so it makes perfect sense that families may transition to EVs by having both types of vehicles until EVs fully take over in coming years.

There is much wrong with that statement , namely :
“…..until EVs fully take over in coming years.”

Um….enjoy that bad dream, I won’t be participating, nor will many people whole will keep their ICEs even if they have to run on ethanol.

What you’re describing is authoritarian rule implemented via climate policy, namely green Marxism hiding inside climate policy.

Q 1. Will there be a time limit on charging, as what is to stop a person from parking at a charging station all day?
Q 2. Somewhat related to above. Will the users also have to pay for parking while charging? If not, is that fair that other drivers have to pay?

Of course, just like today one prefers to park all day next to a petrol pump, although one might prefer the shade of a drive-through service window at McDonalds. No problems.

“Canberrans are serious about climate action” what industry in Canberra makes us heavy polluters?

Why not just release the black world technology that creates and prevents climate change.

Oh that’s right they want a controlled demolition of first world country economies, and boot licking commies lap it up because they think it puts them on a morale pedestal above others.

Capital Retro6:54 pm 14 Dec 21

I think private transport (mainly cars which Canberra was designed to have) are the main source of emissions that justify alarm in Canberra about climate change.

The current government seems determined to have as many of its citizens live in soviet-inspired concrete boxes close to “emission-free trams or ride bikes – definitely not using cars.

Can you give more details on “black world technology”.

“Oh that’s right they want a controlled demolition of first world country economies, and boot licking commies lap it up because they think it puts them on a morale pedestal above others.”

You better check under the bed. You might find a 1960’s communist hanging out under there.

Black world technology….what on earth are you on about.

BWT is a fantastical extrapolation of military research. Note the reference to changing weather, probably relating to chemtrail fictions and similar conspiratorial fantasies. From reading previous posts by them, I conjecture that Oscar Mike is a worker in a misinformation cell. If not, then may as well be.

Well I read through it twice, and couldn’t find a reference to who’s going to pay for these ”600 to 1000 public charging stations”, so I suspect its me as a ratepayer.

This will add to my warm feeling I get when I use the Maccas drive through at the airport in my petrol drinking, piston-clinking, air-polluting, smoke-belching, stuffed four-wheeled buggy, and see the Teslas lined up using a site paid for by me and my NRMA membership, using leccy also paid for by me.

*Acknowledgment to Mr Jerry Reed and his tune
“Lord Mr Ford”.

Merc,
you musn’t have read it in much detail then because it specifically talks about how it’s a guide for mainly private investment in charging infrastructure.

So who will pay?

The users.

Don’t need details or comprehension chewy when you can have some random incidental ‘ha ha’ moment combined with a whinge.

Noone forces you MERC to be an NRMA member…..

Capital Retro8:13 am 15 Dec 21

Yes, I am sure NRMA has all the expertise and equipment to recover broken down members’ EVs on the “open road”.

Capital Retro,
luckily due to their much lower maintenance requirements compared to ICE vehicles that’s a site that you’re unlikely to see.

Thanks Chewy. It was the part in the ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Outlook’ that reads ‘we’re providing information and confidence to the EV charging industry to encourage investment’.
Take note of the ‘confidence ‘ bit. Or perhaps read a it as ‘incentive’. Whatever, it will hurt the home budget.

JS thanks for your note. I use the NRMA as I travel to SA quite a bit, but of course not recently.
If my trusty steed coughs and stops between say Denny and Jerilderie I know both towns have the NRMA reliable service.

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