The Future Fuels Fund has been topped up to provide EV charging nationally. 

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $24.55 million in funding to five applicants across 19 projects to expand Australia’s fast charging network for battery electric vehicles (EVs), in Round 1 of the Government’s Future Fuels Fund.

The funding pool has been increased by $8.05 million from an initial allocation of $16.5 million, after ARENA was impressed by the strength and number of applicants to the funding round.

The successful applicants are:

  • Evie Networks: $8.85 million to Fast Cities Australia Pty Ltd (Evie Networks) for the delivery of 158 public fast charging stations across eight regions.

  • Ampol: $7.05 million to Ampol Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd (Ampol) for the delivery of 121 public fast charging stations across four regions.

  • Engie: $6.85 million to IPAH Client Solutions Australia Pty Ltd (Engie) for the delivery of 103 public fast charging stations across four regions.

  • Chargefox: $1.4 million to Chargefox Pty Ltd (Chargefox) for the delivery of 16 public fast charging stations across two regions.

  • Electric Highways Tasmania: $0.4 million to Electric Highways Tasmania Pty Ltd (EHT) for the delivery of 5 public fast charging stations across one region.

Together, the five applicants will deliver 403 new fast charging stations, each capable of charging at least two vehicles concurrently at 50 kW or above. 

The funding should see a seven-fold increase in the number of fast charging stations in Australia’s most populated cities and regions.