Ampol has officially opened its first AmpCharge electric vehicle charging site.
The new charging infrastructure at Ampol Woolworths’ MetroGo site in Alexandria, New South Wales, is the first in an initial roll out of 120 new sites to be delivered on Ampol forecourts Australia-wide by December 2023.
The milestone reflects Ampol’s shift to offer new energy solutions for customers to support the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across Australia, says Ampol managing director and chief executive Matt Halliday.
“As the energy needs of our customers evolve and more of us are choosing electric vehicles, Ampol is also transitioning to provide a range of fast and reliable electric vehicle charging solutions,” he explains.
“This first site at Alexandria not only represents the beginning of the initial roll out of 120 EV fast charging sites in our retail network, but the first part of our shift to position as a provider of electricity solutions for customers wherever they need them.”
Halliday says AmpCharge infrastructure on Ampol forecourts will be complemented by new at-destination charging solutions in places like shopping centres, and its home charging infrastructure offer.
“We will also leverage our knowledge and strong relationships across industry to provide charging solutions to fleet infrastructure that will support energy transition.”
Ampol international and new business executive general manager Brent Merrick says Ampol is looking to establish the leading EV charging network in Australia by 2030.
“Electrification and electric vehicles will play a critical role in reducing emissions across Australia’s transport sector over the coming years and we have an important role to play in supporting this transition,” he says.
“Our vision for the Ampol EV network is to develop a best-in-class EV charging ecosystem enabling the rollout of our own charging assets and allowing us to partner with others to form Australia’s leading EV charging network. The milestone is part of the first-stage rollout of fast charging technology to sites across our national retail network.”
The Alexandria site opening is part of the initial rollout of five pilot sites at Ampol service stations, with AmpCharge fast charging infrastructure to be launched in Carseldine, Queensland, Northmead NSW, Altona North, Victoria, and Belmont in Western Australia over the coming month.
Each site will be capable of delivering up to 150kW and have the capacity to charge at least two vehicles concurrently.
The five pilot sites have solar panels and solar battery storage provisions which are being trialled with a view to rolling out across Ampol’s network.
Energy used by AmpCharge EV chargers will be 100% offset by large scale generation certificates (LGCs) to net the equivalent electricity consumption, Ampol says.
The first five sites form part of an initial roll out to about 120 sites by December 2023 as part of an agreement with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced in July last year, with ARENA providing partial funding backed by the Australian Government.
