Up to 50 Jolt chargers will be rolled out across key transport sites in Greater Sydney.
EV drivers there now have access to more free 7kWh, fast streetside charging stations, as Jolt and Transport for NSW launch the first in a series of new charging sites.
The first new charging site is in Penrith on the Great Western Highway, close to Penrith Railway Station, the TAFE campus, and Westfield Penrith.
It’s the first to be revealed as part of Jolt’s partnership with Transport for NSW which aims to provide EV drivers across greater Sydney with access to more charging stations around key transport locations.
As part of the partnership, Jolt is set to roll-out EV charging stations in up to 50 sites across NSW, at commuter car parks and other transport facilities, in coming months.
Further chargers will be installed in Cronulla and Oatley in weeks in metro areas close to commuter car parks and other transport facilities.
Transport for NSW and Jolt say they are committed to enhancing the accessibility and convenience of EV charging infrastructure across NSW.
The installation of the first EV charger represents a major step towards building a robust network of charging stations, enabling EV owners to travel confidently and with peace of mind, knowing that charging opportunities are readily available, they add.
Across the Jolt EV charging network, EV drivers have access to 7kWh of free charging which is about 45 kms of range every 24 hours, depending on the EV. Charging takes around 17 minutes.
After users’ vehicles have consumed 7kWh for the calendar day, drivers will be charged a per kWh rate.
More Aussie drivers are switching to EVs, in light of rising cost-of-living pressures and an increased focus on sustainable alternatives, say Jolt and Transport NSW, adding that more chargers in Sydney metropolitan areas help resolve one of the biggest barriers to EV uptake – the lack of charging infrastructure.
“These chargers will offer commuters a simple top-up option at train stations and other hubs, and we’re confident they’ll be very popular,” says Transport for NSW acting chief technology and innovation officer Kurt Brissett.
“In the last year, EV registrations have risen significantly across NSW and more than tripled in Penrith,” he adds.
“We hope making it easier for drivers to top up charge as part of their commute will encourage the transition to electric vehicles.”
Jolt chief executive Doug McNamee says: “The roll out of the Transport for NSW chargers represents a fantastic expansion of our growing Sydney network.
“These state-of-the art, free for 7kWh, and fast charging stations introduce a game-changing solution for EV drivers, resulting in significant cost savings, and allowing them to travel more freely,” he says.
“By using Jolt’s free charging top-ups, EV drivers could save more than $1000 per year on their charging expenses.
“This significant saving is expected to make EV ownership even more attractive to a range of car buyers, looking for convenience, sustainability on their transport choices and cost-effective vehicles.”
In the last year, EV registrations have risen more than 150% on average across NSW.
Globally, it is expected that battery powered EVs will make up 20% of overall car sales by 2025 and nearly 60% by 2035.
Jolt is set to expand its operations across Australia and internationally, having recently partnered with Canadian operator Telus to roll-out 5000 EV chargers across Canada and the roll-out of thousands of chargers in the UK.
The Transport for NSW contract follows Jolt’s further expansion of charging sites in partnerships with Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy, delivering hundreds of fast chargers in coming years, and its recent expansion into New Zealand.
