Driving the EV transition

Customers and communities stand to benefit from a proposal by the three NSW electricity distribution networks to accelerate the roll out of EV charging infrastructure across NSW.

Our General Manager Future Grid and Asset Management, Colin Crisafulli shared this vision today at the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water on EVs, joining Ausgrid’s Tim Jarratt and Essential Energy’s Anne Pearson, in highlighting the crucial role distribution networks can play in supporting EV adoption if enabled to facilitate kerbside charging infrastructure.

Colin said, “We are advocating for customer-led reforms that deliver a faster, more cost-effective pathway for Australia to achieve a net-zero energy system. We have a great opportunity to both enhance the energy transition while aligning with global best practices to create a consistent, high-quality EV user experience to make EV ownership accessible to everyone. Networks are uniquely positioned to help more customers unlock the full value of owning an EV by leveraging their existing infrastructure to make public EV charging more widely accessible to renters and people living in apartments and affordable to complement at-home and fast-charging solutions.”

Colin called out the potential of EVs to act as energy storage resources to help balance solar generation, enhance grid stability, and reduce electricity network costs saying, “Addressing EV charging infrastructure gaps makes EV ownership more convenient, affordable and available in areas where other providers may not offer public EV charging options. In parallel, we are helping build a more reliable, secure power system as more EVs help with the introduction of more renewables into the grid. “

He emphasised that distribution networks can deploy EV charging infrastructure faster, more cost-effectively and with broader community support than other options.

It was great to hear Committee member @Alison Byrnes, MP for Cunningham endorse Endeavour Energy's commitment to engaging local stakeholders on planning the location of infrastructure, who shared that, “@Endeavour Energy has worked really well with our local council to put our community batteries at Warrawong and Dapto, so thank you very much for that!”

Listen to the full Inquiry here.

Read our submission here.