The transition to electric vehicles is underway across Australia, but not everyone is part of the journey just yet. Although more people are ready to drive electric, one significant challenge continues to block the road for many, access to charging.
At EVX, we believe that access to charging should not depend on whether you have a garage. Our mission is to bring electric vehicle charging to the streets where people actually live, work and park, using something as familiar and ordinary as a power pole.
By installing EVX Polechargers directly onto existing street poles, we are making charging accessible for people who might otherwise be excluded from Australia’s electric future. This includes renters, apartment dwellers and urban residents who have long been told that electric vehicles are not for them.
Our solution is practical, scalable and already changing lives.
The problem: a lack of at home charging
Most of Australia’s early electric vehicle adopters had access to private off street parking. For them, installing a home charger was straightforward. They could simply plug in overnight and start the day with a full battery.
But in reality, many Australians live in homes without driveways. In Sydney’s Inner West, for example, more than 60 percent of households do not have off street parking. Statewide, around 30 percent of people face the same issue. This creates an invisible divide, where owning an electric vehicle becomes a privilege reserved for people with the right type of housing.
This challenge affects real people. One example is an energy expert from Sydney who lives in a terrace house on a busy street. With no way to install a private charger, she delayed buying an electric vehicle for years. That changed when a public charger was installed on the power pole outside her home. Within months, she and her family switched to an electric vehicle, confident they could now keep it charged.
This is exactly the kind of everyday barrier we are solving at EVX.
Charging that fits into everyday life
Our approach is straightforward. We take existing power poles, the kind already standing on nearly every street, and equip them with electric vehicle charging technology. These are not fast chargers, but that is the point. They are designed to replicate the experience of home charging, allowing drivers to top up while their car is parked for other reasons.
Whether someone is at work, grabbing groceries or having lunch, they can plug in, walk away and return to a charged car.
The chargers are simple to use. Drivers bring their own cable, activate charging through an app and pay per kilowatt hour. A full charge costs around twelve dollars on average, depending on vehicle size and usage.
By using existing infrastructure, the impact on streetscapes is minimal. There is no need for new car parks or large installations. These chargers blend into the everyday environment while delivering a huge benefit to communities.
Where we are now: a growing national network
With support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), we are installing two hundred fifty additional chargers across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The New South Wales Government is also co-funding the rollout of five hundred kerbside chargers across the state, with EVX as one of the key delivery partners.
Our strategy is to prioritise locations that are high demand but currently underserved. These include residential suburbs with limited private parking, areas near local businesses and commuter hubs where people park for long periods.
We work in partnership with local councils, energy providers and government bodies to identify ideal sites and get chargers operational as quickly as possible.
Designated parking: a practical debate
One of the most discussed topics in kerbside charging is parking access. Should certain spots be reserved for electric vehicles only?
Our experience shows that designated parking significantly improves charger usage. In some locations, usage is up to ten times higher when the spot is clearly reserved for electric vehicles.
Still, it is a sensitive issue. In suburbs where parking is already limited, residents can be hesitant to see space marked for electric vehicles. That is why we work closely with local councils to strike a balance, identifying streets where electric vehicle ownership is growing and ensuring designated spaces are genuinely used and appreciated.
In areas where charging bays are well used, we often see community acceptance follow naturally. When people see a charger being used regularly, they understand its value and begin to support its presence.
Using the daytime sun: better energy for everyone
Kerbside chargers also help solve a growing energy challenge: how to make better use of daytime solar power.
Australia leads the world in rooftop solar adoption. However, most of that energy is produced during the day when people are not home to use it. As a result, much of that power is sent back to the grid at low rates or, in some cases, wasted altogether.
By encouraging people to charge their electric vehicles during the day, kerbside chargers help soak up this excess solar power. This reduces pressure on the energy grid and improves the overall efficiency of our national electricity supply.
In time, smart charging networks will allow for even more intelligent energy use. Imagine a system where a driver’s home solar generation could offset the cost of public charging, no matter where their car is plugged in. The technology to make this a reality is not far off, and we are committed to being part of that next step.
One pole at a time: building trust and access
Our EVX Polechargers are more than just a clever use of existing infrastructure. They are a statement of intent, a signal that clean, affordable transport should be for everyone.
Each new charger we install represents a small but meaningful step towards a more inclusive electric future. And every time a person chooses an electric vehicle because their local street now has a charger, we see that future taking shape.
We know that the work is not done. There are thousands of streets still waiting for access. But we also know what is possible, because we have seen it happen already.
We have seen families finally make the switch. We have seen drivers charge for the first time outside their home. We have seen neighbourhoods begin to embrace this quiet, powerful change.
Looking forward, we remain committed to scaling our network, improving our technology and listening to the communities we serve. We are working to ensure that our EVX Polechargers are easy to use, fairly priced and always close by.
But most importantly, we are focused on inclusion. No one should be left behind in the clean transport transition. Whether you rent or own, live in a city or regional town, drive a lot or a little, you deserve access to the infrastructure that makes sustainable choices possible.
By tapping into the power of poles, we are proving that electric transport is not just for the lucky few. It is for all of us. To learn more about how our EVX Polechargers are making the EV transition easier, visit us here.
