WA grant to help SMEs roll out more electric chargers

Thousands more electric vehicle chargers could be rolled out across Western Australia as part of a $12.5 million project to encourage their use in the workplace.

Western Australia Energy Minister Bill Johnston announced the latest round of Charge Up Workplace Grants after awarding $2.4 million to install 403 electric car chargers earlier this year.

The announcement comes after the state opened another three charging stations in its 7000km EV Network and after Western Australian motorists purchased a record number of electric cars in the year to October.

Johnston said the latest round of electric vehicle infrastructure funding would be open to not-for-profit organisations, small and medium businesses, as well as local councils.

Successful applicants would receive up to half the cost of installing an electric car charger at their workplace, with the cash to support AC or faster DC charging.

“The program encourages daytime charging, enabling EV owners to utilise abundant solar energy during sunny hours, which also assists in stabilising our electricity grid,” Johnston said.

The first round of grants helped fund 403 chargers in 221 locations around Perth, and from Karratha in the Pilbara region to Albany in the south.

Johnston said many of the chargers would support local tourism, small businesses and community service organisations in regional areas.

Applications are open until May 3 next year.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries welcomed the funding, with charging projects “critical to a low-emissions technology future”.

The latest funding also comes after the public vehicle charging network in WA grew, with the state government launching its first charging station at Esperance last Thursday, in addition to new chargers opened by Synergy at Merredin and Southern Cross.

Charging stations have so far opened in 18 locations along the planned EV Network, designed to feature 98 charging stations in 49 locations, covering a 7000km stretch of road.

The network is expected to be complete in 2024.

Sales figures from the FCAI last week revealed electric vehicles accounted for 6.4% of new vehicle sales in Western Australia so far this year, with demand more than tripling from 1845 vehicles in 2022 to 6590 in 2023.

Across the nation, motorists have purchased 71,800 electric vehicles this year compared to 23,869 last year.

This article was first published by AAP.