EV charging amps up in the East

Over 250 additional public electric vehicle chargers will be installed across Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra local government areas by the end of 2025 to cater to the demand of more charging stations. These will be a combination of kerbside ‘AC’ and fast ‘DC’ chargers.  Currently there are approximately 100 chargers installed across the region.

The three councils have been awarded over $700,000 in funding from the NSW Local Small Commitments Allocation (LSCA) Grants as well as close to $300,000 from the NSW Government Kerbside Charging Grants to expand the Council owned charging network with an additional 90 charging ports over the next 12-18 months.

The three councils are also facilitating private companies who have been awarded the NSW Government Kerbside Charging Grants to install an additional 160 public charging ports, subject to consultation, electrical and traffic approvals, bringing the total of new charging stations to 250.

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said that as of June 2024, there are 4,000 EVs on the road across the three councils with this number doubling year on year.

“It’s exciting to see people rapidly taking up EVs – but even more exciting that councils are able to support this demand and help create a cleaner environment,” she said.

“As EV usage grows, the councils have been trialling innovative charging technologies, including retrofitting EV chargers on wooden street poles at 21 locations; installing five charging stations into new multi-function poles at Glenayr Ave, Bondi, and Bronte Road, Charing Cross and partnering with the private sector to set up charging hubs in council carparks.”

“The transition to EVs is the single largest step toward achieving net-zero emissions in the Eastern suburbs with the potential to decrease emissions by 33% by 2050.”

In November 2023, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils endorsed ‘Leading the Charge: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy’, outlining the vision and infrastructure required to meet growing numbers of EVs on our roads and have recently appointed a full time EV Project Manager, a first for councils in NSW.

The three Councils have been at the forefront of public vehicle charging installations for a number of years. In 2019 they were the first in NSW to establish a network of Council owned charging stations, powered by 100% renewable electricity.