Investment in electric vehicle charging stations
The contents of this page have been archived. This represents Council’s advocacy position prior to the 2022 State and Federal elections.
For updated information on any of these projects, please contact Council.
ADVOCACY UPDATE
Australian Labor Party Federal Election Commitment
$500 million Driving the Nation Fund – Funding will focus on increasing the number of charging stations to make owning an electric vehicle more convenient. Labor has also announced an Electric Vehicle discount scheme.
BACKGROUND
What is the ask?
We request Victorian and Australia Government provide support to increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Port Phillip.
What is the issue that this initiative will address?
Approximately 13 per cent of Port Phillip’s community emissions come from transport, including releasing 201,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Vehicles powered by fossil fuels also contribute significantly to urban air pollution, which impacts human health.
Council is committed to improving access to charging stations to encourage an increased uptake in use of electric vehicles (EVs) by residents and businesses in the community.
What is Council proposing?
Council is committed to delivering improved infrastructure and policies to support greater uptake in electric cars, including by:
- partnering with EV charging providers to create a network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- establishing policies, standards and pilot opportunities for Multi-Unit Developments (MUDs) and properties without access to off-street parking.
The delivery of these actions will stimulate the market for EVs, supporting innovation in emerging technologies and local supply chains and improving sustainable transport choices for our community.
How does this initiative align with the Council Plan and Government priorities?
Council
Council has committed $300,000 over four years (2020/21 to 2023/24) to deliver a Community Electric Vehicle Charging Program.
City of Port Phillip Council Plan 2021-31: Sustainable Port Phillip - A City that has a sustainable future, where our environmentally aware and active community benefits from living in a bayside city that is greener, cooler, cleaner and climate resilient.
We will partner with the Australian and Victorian governments to explore opportunities for electric vehicle charging companies (subject to commercial interest) to install electric vehicle chargers across the City
The request also aligns with Councils Act and Adapt Sustainable Environment Strategy 2018-28 and Move, Connect, Live Integrated Transport Strategy 2018-28 to:
Support the uptake of electric vehicles, including installation of public charging stations and investigation of planning controls to require charging infrastructure in new developments.
Victorian Government
This request supports delivery of the Victorian Government's:
- Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap 2021, including the target of 50 per cent of new light vehicle sales to be zero emissions by 2030
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030 and the target of zero net emissions by 2050.
Australian Government
This initiative supports the Australian Government’s:
- Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy to increase the uptake of hybrid, hydrogen, electric and biofuelled vehicles. In particular the priority action: Electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure where it is needed
- whole-of-economy Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050
- Commitment to the Paris Agreement.
How does the initiative assist the community to recover from COVID-19?
This initiative would stimulate the market for electric vehicles, supporting innovation in emerging technologies and local supply chains and improving cleaner travel choices for our community.
In 2019/20, the Charging the Regions (PDF 7.3 KB) project, part-funded by the Victorian Government, identified that, based on a moderate EV uptake scenario by 2030, installation of a state-wide EV charging network was modelled to avoid approximately $12.8 million in health costs, and 600,000tCO2-e (tonnes of carbon emissions) and potentially generate $258 million for the economy.
Cost and current status?
Cost
The project is subject to a detailed cost analysis. Costs to install fast chargers range between $40,000-$100,000 per charging station depending on the location and existing electrical infrastructure.
Status
Scoping and preliminary analysis have been completed to assess demand and identify charging opportunities on public land.
Council is currently working with service providers to identify suitable locations and install the first public fast chargers. Council intends to continue rolling out this program across the city, subject to funding.
Port Phillip is the first Council in Victoria to trial the introduction of a permit for community members without access to off-street parking to install a charger in the nature strip or footpath and charge their vehicle from their own electricity supply.
More information
For more information, visit electric vehicles.