EV investment charges up city-wide net zero vision

City of Newcastle is investing almost $450,000 to triple the number of public electric vehicle (EV) charger ports across the city. 

Thirty-two ports across 11 new locations will be installed to cater for the growing number of EV owners who live in or visit Newcastle.

The roll-out has been supported through a $270,000 grant from the NSW Government as part of its Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a city-wide transition to net zero emissions was a key priority for City of Newcastle under its Newcastle Environment Strategy.

"City of Newcastle has a well earnt reputation when it comes to protecting our precious natural environment, while also investing in progressive actions to ensure our city is more sustainable," Cr Nelmes said.

"Delivering the public infrastructure necessary to support our community's uptake of electric vehicles is an essential step in our vision for a city-wide net zero transition.

"We applaud the NSW Government's commitment to making NSW the easiest and most affordable place to buy and use an EV in Australia and thank them for their support in driving our sustainability initiatives forward in Newcastle."

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said the NSW Government is delivering on its election commitment to increase the take up of EVs by investing $4.1 million to install 671 EV charging ports at 391 sites across the state.

"This investment will significantly increase the availability of public charging options and give people confidence their next vehicle purchase can be an EV," Minister Sharpe said. 

“Almost 30 per cent of NSW drivers do not have access to private, off-street parking to charge an EV. 

“We will continue to roll out EV charging grants to further support the NSW goal of being the easiest place in Australia to own and drive an electric vehicle.”

City of Newcastle will install new chargers in Beresfield, Georgetown, Stockton, Adamstown, Mayfield, Hamilton, New Lambton, Newcastle, Newcastle East, Wallsend and Wickham, including to complement its popular Local Centres upgrade program. 

They will join City of Newcastle's existing public EV charging network at Wharf Road, No. 2 Sportsground, Laman Street and Perkins Street in the Newcastle CBD. The chargers will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy from City of Newcastle’s Summerhill Solar Farm and existing power purchase agreement.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Novocastrians are known for embracing sustainability.

"As part of our Newcastle Environment Strategy we are supporting the uptake and availability of electric and low emissions vehicles," Cr Clausen said. 

"Increasing the number of EV public chargers across the city is an important step towards achieving this goal. 

"Since 2019, we have provided enough renewable electricity through our existing EV chargers to allow drivers to travel a total of 2.66 million kilometres, which is enough to circle the globe 66 times.

"With three times the number of places to charge, we will make it even easier for locals to make the switch to electric vehicles.

"The roll-out will also make Newcastle more attractive for the growing number of tourists looking for electric vehicle-friendly destinations."

The $270,000 funding was secured through the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under its electric vehicle kerbside charging grant program. 

The EV chargers will begin rolling out in coming months, with the project expected to be completed by February next year.