In a promising development for the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in Australia, a recent report by consulting firm Next System anticipates a substantial surge in the number of EV charging sites over the next year. The analysis reveals a remarkable 90% year-on-year growth in the number of car-charging sites during 2023, a testament to the burgeoning demand for sustainable transportation.
Despite Tesla’s dominance in EV sales, the report highlights Chargefox as the major contributor to the charging infrastructure, surpassing other providers. The Public Fast Charger Network report indicates the addition of 397 car-charging sites and 755 new charging points in Australia in 2023 alone, reflecting an 83% growth in the total number of charging points and a notable 93% growth in charging capacity.
Looking ahead, Next System’s founder, Daniel Bleakley, projects a doubling of EV charging sites in 2024, with 870 new charging sites expected to be established across 470 locations in the country. This proactive expansion is set to bring the national total to over 1,600 charging sites by the end of the year, a significant step towards addressing concerns about the adequacy of Australia’s charging network for supporting EV technology.
The report identifies local firm Chargefox as a key player, operating over one-third of all charging sites, followed by Evie Networks and Tesla with 23% and 10% market share, respectively. Interestingly, traditional petrol retailers such as BP and Ampol are also making strides in the EV charging sector, claiming sixth and seventh positions as their national rollout gains momentum.
Tesla, while leading in market share, is reported to offer the greatest power through its Supercharger network, representing almost half of Australia’s charging network capacity. These findings coincide with a surge in EV sales, with Australians purchasing over 87,000 electric cars in 2023, constituting more than 7% of all new vehicle sales and doubling the figures from the previous year. The positive trend indicates a growing alignment between the expansion of the EV charging infrastructure and the rising adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
