The transport sector is the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases in NSW. In 2020, it was responsible for 28 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) of emissions (20% of total emissions). Passenger vehicles made up almost 57% of those total emissions. Increasing the number of electric vehicles (EV) on NSW roads, and powering them with renewable energy will help reduce emissions across the transport sector, contributing towards the State’s objective to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
NSW Kerbside Charging Grant
The NSW government has announced a new EV kerbside charging grant for Local Government Areas (LGAs). The kerbside funding grant aims to aid the almost 30% of drivers in NSW who do not have access to off-street parking to charge an EV. This lack of access is a major barrier for many people who are looking at making the switch to an EV. Thus, the project aims to support these parts of the state where home charging may not be accessible by residents and ultimately grow the number of charging points for current and prospective EV owners. A total of $10 million dollars is being invested by the NSW government to support LGAs and charge point operators (CPOs) in supplying EV charging infrastructure to their communities. The first stage of the project will be completed over three years and has been allocated $3 million dollars. Each LGA can receive up to $800, 000. The grant will help subsidise less than 80% of the total cost of installation of the charger, with funding for each EV charge port commissioned to be capped at $10,000 each. The other area being funded as part of the grant, are the EV charger software subscription costs for the charger asset owners. This software is what allows EV users to operate these kerbside chargers. Up to 80% of the cost of a 3-year EV charger software subscription can also be included in eligible applications.What is needed in the Application?
A minimum application must provide four EV charging sites with a total combined minimum of 8 EV charge ports (four chargers with 2 ports each or 8 single chargers with one port each). There is no upper limit for the number of charging sites. Any successful applicant must commit to installing and commissioning all sites proposed within the application within 12 months of executing the funding agreement with the NSW Government. The chargers must be functional for a minimum of five years after installation. The first milestone is the application which includes a project plan, maintenance schedule and a risk plan. The project plan must include the suggested sites, charger types, an overview of similar projects completed by the lead or supporting organisation, a financial plan for completing the project and methods used for payment collection, how the chargers will be operated, maintained and decommissioned. The locations for the sites must be in areas that do not exceed a 50 km/hr speed limit. The maintenance must include a maintenance schedule with a minimum maintenance of once per year, and potential reactive maintenance response times for things like vandalism or unplanned equipment failure. The risk plan must include key project risks and how those risks will be managed. And finally, the application must also include a letter of support from the EV charger company and the relevant electricity supply authority. Applications for the first round of grants are now open and will close on the 17th of November 2023. There are 26 LGAs eligible for the grant (a full list is provided below). Within the grant, the NSW government highlight several benefits to the LGA, these included:- Locals will be satisfied knowing they have access to essential charging options;
- Progress towards achieving the LGAs net zero and sustainability goals;
- Community adoption of EVs will increase;
- LGAs will secure their reputation as a leading local government
What can Carloop do to Help?
Carloop can help LGAs with their applications by providing EV uptake trends, and charger utilisation data in your local area, as well as help with the project plan by making charger type and site suggestions and suggest charge point operators for installation and management. If you’re part of an eligible local government and need assistance with drafting your proposal, feel free to contact us.Round 1 eligible LGAs list:
- Bayside
- Blacktown
- Burwood
- Canada Bay
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Cumberland
- Fairfield
- Georges River
- Hunters Hill
- Inner West
- Ku-ring-gai
- Lane Cove
- Liverpool
- Mosman
- Newcastle
- North Sydney
- Northern Beaches
- Parramatta
- Randwick
- Ryde
- Strathfield
- Sutherland Shire
- Sydney
- Waverley
- Willoughby
- Woollahra
