The EV Council of Australia’s State of EVs Report notes the EV market share increased by 65 per cent in 2022 to reach 3.39 per cent of new light vehicle (car) sales.
Types of EVs
There are two types of EVs that require chargers: plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrid vehicles can use petrol or diesel in addition to electricity as a source of energy. This means plug-in hybrids still have some tailpipe emissions.
Battery EVs are fully powered by electricity and have no tailpipe emissions. Battery EVs also have lower operating and maintenance costs than plug-in hybrids.
An average battery EV charged using electricity from Western Australia’s main grid – the South West Interconnected System – produces almost 30 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions when compared to an average internal combustion engine vehicle in Australia.
Types of EV chargers
There are three categories of EV charger:
- Level 1 - AC slow charging
- Level 2 - AC fast charging
- Level 3 - DC fast or ultra-fast charging
The speed of a charger depends on its charging capability, measured in kW. A Level 2 charger is generally 7kW or 22kW. Using a Level 2 charger for just one hour can add between 40km to 100km of range to an EV, depending on the EV's configuration. In Australia, the average range of a battery EV is 395km.
Round one of the Charge Up grants covers Level 2 chargers, with Level 3 chargers to be funded in future rounds. All chargers supported by the Charge Up grant must be approved chargers.
