More ultrarapid EV charging stations announced for Victoria

Victorian Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio yesterday opened Australia’s first ultrarapid electric vehicle (EV) charging site in the town of Euroa — and at the same time announced funding for five more stations to be built across the state.

With another station already set to open in Barnawartha North, the Victorian Government has announced $2 million to support charging stations in Melbourne, Ballarat, Horsham, Torquay and Traralgon, boosting tourism opportunities for these regions. The stations are capable of delivering up to 400 km of range in just 15 minutes — the fastest of any charger currently deployed in Australia — sourced from 100% renewable energy.

“Uptake of electric vehicles will help us reduce emissions and to tackle climate change,” D’Ambrosio said.

“More Victorians will be driving electric vehicles in the future; that’s why we’re building the infrastructure to be ready to meet this demand.”

Earlier this year, start-up company Chargefox received $1 million from the government to develop the Euroa and Barnawartha North sites — funding which the energy company is matching in order to build the stations. They are set to become a part of Australia’s largest open, ultrarapid network of EV charging stations, with 21 charging sites on interstate highways set to connect major capital cities including Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and separately north and south of Perth.

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