Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles have become popular in many cities around the world as communities transition to lower carbon lifestyles. Find out how we’re encouraging an increase in electric vehicles in Port Phillip.

Charging locations: We have installed two free charging stations in the rooftop carpark of the South Melbourne Market and there are three privately owned charging stations in our municipality. Check locations near you on the charging stations map.

Increasing infrastructure

We’re encouraging an uptake of electric vehicles by:

working with the community, partners and electricity distributors to install charging stations on public land
encouraging developers and building owners to install chargers on privately-owned land
advocating to the Victorian and Australian Governments for policy change and investment to support affordable electric vehicles
purchasing electric vehicles for Council’s fleet

Our Council Plan and Sustainable Environment Strategy support the following actions to support an increase in electric vehicle infrastructure across the City.

If you have questions or would like to share feedback about electric vehicles and charging stations in Port Phillip, please visit the electric vehicles section on My Port Phillip.

New charging stations

We released an Expression of Interest in June 2021 seeking applications from suitably qualified and experienced companies to design, install, operate and manage a network of electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure across the City.

Council would be leasing the land to operators at no cost and the operators would be responsible for costs involved in installing and managing their operations.

Applications have been reviewed and in the coming weeks, the locations of the fast charging stations will be announced.

Council’s vehicles

We are currently transitioning our fleet of vehicles with 40 hybrid and electric vehicles already part of our fleet.

Kerbside vehicle charging trial

For residents who don't have an off-street carpark on their property, we have developed a kerb charging permit. This permit enables a charging facility to be installed at the kerb by the nature strip in front of your property.

Please note: You can’t run power cords across a footpath or road for safety reasons. This is a Local Law in the City of Port Phillip.

The permit is currently on trial for up to 10 applicants.

Please read the Electric Vehicle Kerb Charging Facility Trial Application Guidelines (DOCX 460 KB)

If you are eligible to apply, submit an Electric Vehicle Kerb Charging Trial Application Form (PDF 89 KB).

For more information, please contact enviro@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Buying an electric vehicle

Considering going electric?

The Victorian Government has set a target for half of new car sales to be zero emissions vehicles by 2030 and they are currently offering a $3,000 subsidy for new zero emissions vehicles purchased. Find more information and eligibility requirements for the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Subsidy.

Zero emissions vehicles don’t use petrol, which means they don’t emit greenhouse gases from the tailpipe. Battery Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are examples of these technologies.

We answer some of your most frequent questions about owning an electric vehicle in the FAQs below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it certainly is. Transport accounts for 15 per cent of our community’s emissions (source: 2019 Port Phillip emissions snapshot) with automotive 11 per cent of that.
The best way to reduce your transport emissions is by walking, riding your bike, and using public transport when you can. When driving is the best option to get you somewhere, electric vehicles, especially when powered by renewable energy, can significantly reduce your emissions compared with fossil fuel powered vehicles.
Electric vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions when powered by renewable energy.
In addition to reducing your carbon emissions, electric vehicles don’t contribute to air pollution like standard automotive vehicles do. Vehicle pollution unfortunately causes over 1,700 deaths each year in Australia.
There are also many other options to reduce your carbon footprint – here are eight powerful ways.
There are two types of electric vehicles:
- fully electric vehicles - use battery only
- plug-in hybrid vehicles - use a combination of battery and petrol.
The number and type of electric vehicles available in Australia is growing and includes hatchbacks and SUVs. Find out which electrical vehicles are available in Australia
Electric vehicles are generally more expensive to purchase than conventional fossil fuel vehicles, but the good news is that they are much cheaper to run. The price of electric vehicles has decreased over the last five years and is continuing to decrease with new technology and an increase in demand.
Electric vehicles can save the average Australian driver over $1,500 per year on fuel costs. Cost savings become even more significant if you can charge them using solar panels installed on your home or business.
The Electric Vehicle Council’s cost calculator tool, funded by Australian Renewable Energy Agency, provides an understanding of the comparative costs of owning an electric vehicle in Australia.
The Victorian Government is incentivising Victorians to choose to buy a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) sooner through the Zero Emissions Vehicle Subsidy Program, saving people up to $3,000 on the purchase of a ZEV and driving Victoria’s transition to a net-zero emissions future.
It’s important to note that the Victorian Government has also introduced a tax on zero or low emissions vehicles that came into effect from 1 July 2021. Under the ZLEV Road-User Charge, electric, other zero emissions and hydrogen vehicles will be charged 2.5 cents per kilometre and plug-in electric vehicles will be charged 2 cents per kilometre.
There are generally two ways to charge an electric vehicle.
AC charge is the slower, cheaper option, and is the most appropriate method for most in-home charging situations. This requires the use of a special adaptor box which connects to the 240V output. This is an ‘overnight’ style of charging where you would need to have the vehicle on charge for around six hours. Some on-street charging facilities also offer AC charging.
DC charge is faster (approximately three hours for a full charge) and costs several times that of AC systems. The output is typically 50 kilowatts and this type of charger is commonly available at charging stations.
More rapid charging stations are also making their way to Australia. They have an output capacity of between 150 and 350 kilowatts and can charge a vehicle in less than 15 minutes!
In Australia, the electric vehicle industry is still relatively young, consisting of less than 0.78 per cent of all new vehicle registrations, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.
Many European countries are further ahead, with Norway topping the list with 74 per cent of vehicles being plug-in electric vehicles, based on 2020 data.
There are several reasons for slower growth of the industry in Australia, including:
- purchase price (when compared to fossil fuel vehicles)
- variety of vehicles available on the market
- perceived issues around a vehicle’s range and fear of running out of charge mid transit
- some people may not have space to park and charge an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicles

Increasing infrastructure

New charging stations

Council’s vehicles

Kerbside vehicle charging trial

Buying an electric vehicle

Frequently Asked Questions

Is owning an electric vehicle a good way to reduce my emissions?

What types of electric vehicles are available to buy today in Australia?

How far can an electric vehicle travel before I need to charge it?

Are electric vehicles expensive?

How can I charge an electric vehicle?

Where can I find more information?

How is electric vehicle uptake tracking in Australia?