As electric vehicle (EV) sales in Australia hit record highs, the need for public charging infrastructure is growing rapidly. Nearly 25,000 EVs were sold in March 2025, a 69.6% increase from the previous year, driven by soaring petrol prices linked to the conflict in Iran. However, Australia still lags behind countries like China, South Korea, and the Netherlands in public charging availability.
While 80% of charging occurs at home, the public network is expanding quickly, with at least 20% more chargers in 2025 than the previous year. Stephen Lightfoot, a Sydney doctor and vice-president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, experienced 'charger rage' during a trip to Canberra, where drivers nearly came to blows over a single charger. He advocates for more chargers in car parks, service centres, and shopping centres, and calls for standardised tap-and-go payment systems like Tesla's.
Advances in battery technology are reducing range anxiety. Finn Peacock of SolarQuotes notes that his 2024 Tesla Model 3 has a real-world range of over 500km, up from 350km in his 2019 model. Major brands now offer ranges exceeding 700km. Dean Postlethwaite of Sydney EV Chargers says ultra-rapid DC chargers (150-350kW) are becoming common, shifting driver behaviour from 'charge when necessary' to 'charge when convenient'.
The federal government's National Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to establish a highway network with fast chargers every 150km by the end of 2026. Much of the infrastructure is renewable-powered, as government funding often requires renewable energy use. Regional Australia is a key focus for rollout, though some areas already have good coverage.
