Electric vehicle fast charging grants
We’re working to make NSW the easiest place to buy and use an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, with a $131 million investment to develop a world-class charging network across the state.
A key action under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, this investment will support and encourage growth of the EV market by:
- overcoming range anxiety through the development of a broad, visible and accessible fast charging network across NSW
- ensuring connectivity between metropolitan and regional areas
- future-proofing the EV charging network past 2030
- co-funding private industry to build, own and operate the charging stations
- maximising grid support and reducing emissions.
Funding fast charging stations
The Drive electric NSW EV fast charging grants will support charge point operators (CPOs) to construct fast charging stations across the state.
Grant funding will be offered through a competitive two-stage application process. Stage one will assess eligibility and basic site details. If applicants meet the assessment criteria, they will be invited to apply for stage two, which includes a detailed application on the identified sites.
Applicants must fund a minimum of 50% of the total project capital cost and can apply for up to $15 million in funding across multiple locations in round one. Co-funding can also include renewable energy generation and battery storage for EV charging stations.
Funding will be prioritised for projects that can demonstrate both value for money and merit, including building regional charging stations, innovation in station design and diversity of locations proposed.
Before you apply for funding
To help you prepare an application make sure you read:
EV FAST CHARGING FUNDING GUIDELINES
Please note that the percentages of payments for milestones 1, 2 and 3 have been changed since the initial release of the funding guidelines. Please refer to page 18 of the EV fast charging funding guidelines for the latest update.
The guidelines provide important information about the application requirements and information about the assessment process.
The guidelines cover:
- timeframes for submissions and assessment of competitive bids
- how co-funding is allocated as well as caps and exclusions
- minimum performance standards required for an eligible application
- eligibility and merit criteria
- what co-funding can and cannot be used for
- priority and optimal zones
- the grant selection process
- terms and conditions applicants must comply with if successful.
Funding rounds
The first round will allocate up to $35 million to co-fund the construction of EV fast charging stations. Round one will be open from Monday 7 February to mid June 2022 for CPOs to apply for funding to construct EV charging stations in identified priority zones.
There will be multiple funding rounds until 2024 to support the construction of EV fast charging stations across the state.
Round one, stage one applications are now closed.
Timeframes and assessment of bids
Stage one: Eligibility and key site details application – 6 weeks
Round one applications are now closed.
Applicants confirm eligibility for the program and provide basic information on the sites they would like to bid for; this includes addressing merit criteria.
Stage one: Eligibility and key site details assessment – 3 weeks
Round one assessments from 21 March to 8 April 2022.
Stage one applications were reviewed through a NSW government assessment panel. The final decision is based on competitive analysis of sites across all applications and the applicant’s ability to address the merit criteria.
Stage two: Detailed application – 6 weeks
By invitation only based on stage one applications. Stage two is open from 11 April to 27 May 2022.
Applicants provide a detailed application on the sites approved for progression from stage one. All merit criteria must be reviewed and finalised by applicants.
Stage two: Assessment of final bids – 4 weeks
Round one assessments from 30 May to 24 June March 2022.
Review of detailed applications through the assessment panel and applicants will be contacted to let them know the outcome of their bid.
Contracts awarded stage – 3 weeks
Round one contract awarded between 27 June and 15 July 2022.
Contracts for funding awarded through signing of formal funding deeds, after which projects will commence.
Priority zones and site hosts
The EV fast charging master plan identifies optimal and priority zones that are ideal for future charging stations across NSW.
There are 380 optimal zones across the state, of which 250 are priority zones. These have been split into 107 green zones and 143 blue zones.
Only sites within green zones are eligible for funding in round one. This is set to expand to include locations identified as blue zones in future funding rounds. The list of priority zones can be found in Appendix 4 of the guidelines.
We have also launched a NSW EV fast charging site host prospectus, which outlines the many benefits of hosting EV charging stations, as well as host roles and responsibilities. We encourage site owners and operators across the state that are interested in hosting EV charging stations to complete an expression of interest.
Interested CPOs can email [email protected] to request a copy of the locations and contact details collected from the site host EOI process. The CPO and site host can then discuss the opportunity to install and operate charging infrastructure at these sites.
Please be aware we are not involved in the negotiations between charging providers and site hosts. We recommend obtaining professional guidance for these negotiations.
Support for applicants
View the recording of our online information session for an overview of the funding model, round one design, application process and application portal walk through.
The following documents are also available to assist potential applicants:
- application check list to help prepare materials for the application
- Template accountant declaration
If you have any further questions once you have read the guidelines, FAQs and supporting documentation please email [email protected].
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