Electric Vehicles

• Lower maintenance costs
• Reduced air pollution (which benefits health)
• Improved driving experience – good performance and quieter
• Safer vehicles – every electric vehicle ever tested in Australia has achieved the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
• Free from reliance on imported fossil fuels
• Minimise or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions - You can charge with renewable energy at home by installing solar or purchasing Green Power (even regular grid electricity has fewer emissions than petrol)

• Most Australians have an average daily drive around 40km a day, which can easily be accommodated by an EV on a single charge (most EVs can easily drive 200km, with newer models driving up to 400km)
• The number of public EV charging points is increasing with a network of ultra-fast charging stations being rolled out in NSW
• The NSW Government aims to increase EV sales to 52% by 2030-31
• Many countries have committed to zero-emissions passenger vehicle sales, for example Norway by 2025, UK and Canada by 2035
• Several major car companies have committed to only producing EVs by 2030
• 56% of Australian’s would consider an EV for their next car purchase

 Depending on the vehicle and its usage, an EV can be more affordable than a petrol car over its lifetime. The ‘payback’ equation will continue to improve as EVs become cheaper to buy and the range of models increases. As the number of new EVs bought in Australia grows, with time the second hand market will expand. 

NSW Government sometimes offer rebates or incentives and it is best to check their website for the latest programs. 

There are a range of charging options at home, in workplaces, at shopping centres and on the roadside that range from slow (an AC EV charger at home will fully charge a car overnight) to fast (a roadside DC EV charger can fully charge some EVs in 15 minutes).

Plugshare

PlugShare is an independent register that provides an up-to-date database of all EV charging stations. 

Willoughby City Council's charging stations

Willoughby City Council has installed locally multiple public access EV charging points. These chargers are powered by 100%renewable electricity.

With the exception of Westfield car park and Railway St charging stations (which charge 25c/kWh) all charging stations provide free charging (although parking fees may apply). You need to bring-your-own cables.

All EV parking in the bays are subject to parking requirements. Only EVs which are charging are allowed to park in any of these bays. Disabled parking is allowed in these EV charging bays ONLY whilst charging. Infringement notices may be issued to ensure compliance.

• NSW Government – Electric Vehicles
• Electric Vehicle Council – see the ‘About Electric Vehicles’ pages
• Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) – see fact sheets and resources
• theDriven.io - news and analysis about electric vehicles
• What checks do I need to do when buying a second-hand battery electric vehicle? (theDriven)

The Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Sustainability Infrastructure) Act 2020 categorises the installation of EV charging infrastructure as a sustainability infrastructure upgrade. A simple majority vote of 50% is required implement a ‘sustainability upgrade’ resolution’.

To install EV charging in an apartment you will need to: 

• Determine the kind of EV charging that would suit the building and its residents.
  • Communal charging in visitor carparks or individual charging in private carparks.
  • The payment system used through common or individual meters.
• Get support from strata owners by communicating the benefits.
  • Supports owners who want to purchase EVs.
  • EVs are better for the environment and health than petrol vehicles.
  • Can increase property value.
• Assess the capacity of the building to facilitate EV charging.
  • Switchboard space and capacity.
  • Capacity of supply cables from the grid and whether these need upgrading.
  • Connection and metering to see whether chargers can connect to individual meters, whether new revenue-grade meters are required, whether chargers can connect to a common meter board for third party billing.
  • Charging type and speed: need fast charging for communal charging spots, and slower charging for simultaneous individual charging if there are capacity limitations.
• Conduct a legal review and draft new bylaws to govern EV charging.
  • Usage and payments.
  • Charger capacities.
  • Cabling and charger specifications.
  • Installation and de-installation of chargers.

If you are looking to install a communal charger in a visitor parking space, then Council approval will be required for the change of use of the car space. 

More information

• See the information on making your residential strata building EV ready provided by the NSW Government
• Watch this webinar where industry experts explain how to set up EV charging in an apartment building
• See the case studies and fact sheets provided by Wattblock
• Read the guide to preparing your strata building for electric vehicle charging(PDF, 864KB)   by Sydney Electrical & Data.