Australians who drive electric vehicles (EV) will benefit from improved charging technology as a result of continued investment by the Morrison Government that will help to drive down the cost of EV charging stations and make them more user friendly for drivers.

The Morrison Government is supporting JET Charge, one of Australia’s leading EV charging infrastructure manufacturers to continue to develop smart charging technology through a $3.5 million equity investment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this investment will help make charging more user friendly and will better integrate EVs into the electricity grid.

“The Government’s support for the uptake of EVs is driven by consumer choice,” said Mr Taylor.

“We are taking practical action to address barriers to EV uptake so that Australians who choose to adopt new technologies can.

“We want to back transport technologies and local businesses that enable consumer choice and have the potential to lower energy costs.

“What the Government won’t do is tell Australians what kind of car they can and can’t buy, or introduce a tax to meet an electric vehicle target. Labor’s policy to force Australians to buy electric vehicles will increase the cost of buying a new car by as much as $5,000. 

“Technologies, not taxes, will be the way to reduce emissions in the transport sector. We will make sure that the introduction of these new technologies enables consumer choice and deliver a secure and affordable energy and transport system.”

The Government has previously invested over $21 million for public charging infrastructure, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to roll out 63 ultra-fast charging sites through two networks along Australia’s national highways.

This investment complements the Government’s development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy, which will be finalised by the end of the year. The future role of electric vehicles in Australia will also be a focus of the Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap.

Media contact:

Minister Taylor's office (02) 6277 7120