Two companies backed by the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund in Brisbane have reached a deal to roll out 300 direct current (DC) fast chargers for electric vehicles (EV) around the country.
Evie Networks has signed a deal to install the new RTM 50kW fast chargers from Tritium, which has its sights set on becoming Australia's next unicorn with a potential NASDAQ listing.
The Tritium RTM fast chargers are expected to be deployed over the next two years at 158 different destinations, with two chargers available at each site that are likely to provide up to 50 kilometres of range within a 10-minute charge.
Evie Networks, an Australian fast charging network, was recently awarded funds from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Future Fuels Fund.
"It's fantastic to see this scale of charging infrastructure being deployed in Australia - it will help reduce range anxiety and encourage EV uptake, which is lagging behind other developed countries," says Tritium CEO Jane Hunter.
"We're very pleased to see federal government support for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
"While the e-mobility industry does not require subsidies to support the transition from petrol cars to EVs, it benefits greatly from governments indicating their support for the change via policy statements, which enables public confidence when buying a new car."
The new charges will be partly funded by the ARENA fund, under which Evie Networks was announced as the top funding recipient with a $23.85 million grant and the only company to win financing in all eight of Australia's states and territories. This makes Evie Networks the most heavily funded EV charging operator in Australia.
"This is a huge vote of confidence for the team," says Evie Networks CEO Chris Mills.
"This expansion across all of Australia's capital cities will accelerate access to quality fast EV charging for more Australians.
"Our sites will be prepared for the future with this advanced and upgradeable technology from Tritium."
The news follows the Western Australian Government's announcement yesterday of the $21 million Electric Vehicle Fund to build a network connecting Perth with regional WA, extending from Esperance to Kalgoorlie to Kununurra. Tenders for the design will open this year with the network planned for operation by 2024.
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