Joint media release: Australia’s largest EV fleet charging project unveiled in Port Melbourne

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy 
Josh Burns MP, Member for Macnamara

The Albanese Government is making it easier for businesses to switch their fleets to EVs by helping Melbourne-based company JET Charge launch the country’s largest ever EV fleet charging project, simplifying EV charging at work and at home.  

With more than $12 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the initiative will see JET Charge provide a full-service charging solution and install, operate and maintain EV charging infrastructure for fleets, including for employees who use fleet vehicles.

This ‘Charging as a Service’ initiative helps drive EV uptake by making charging more convenient and accessible. It allows businesses to charge vehicles at their premises and employee homes. The project is expected to help drive the uptake of more than 3,100 EVs over the next 3 years.

Charging infrastructure will be installed in workplaces and at homes of employees, with JET Charge building on its Australian designed and built hardware and technologies.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the government was backing innovation to decarbonise transport while helping businesses save on running costs.  

“Businesses can save a lot on running costs by switching their fleets to electric and we are seeing plenty of enthusiasm from fleet users to offer cleaner, cheaper to run cars to their employees and cut down on fuel costs,” Minister Bowen said.

“It’s great news that a local business in Port Melbourne will be spearheading the move to more accessible clean energy. Electric vehicles are the future of transport in Australia, and I welcome JET Charge’s initiative in establishing Charge as a Service, which will assist more Australians to switch to EVs,” said local Federal MP Josh Burns.

Fleets account for 50% of new vehicle sales in Australia. Greater uptake among fleets will help grow a second-hand market and help get more Australians behind the wheel of an EV.

After a decade of policy inaction, including a ridiculous scare campaign about EVs ‘ending the weekend’, EVs have now jumped from 2% of new car sales in May 2022 to almost 9% today.

With a petrol vehicle costing around $2,400 per year to drive on average and an EV costing around $400 a year to drive, increasing the availability and affordability of EVs can save households thousands.