14,000 new EV chargers risk sitting unused if petrol cars block them
Petrol cars could block 14,000 new chargers from 2027, cutting usage by 90 per cent.
The federal government plans to install about 14,000 electric vehicle chargers on power poles in high-density areas from 2027. Most chargers won't have dedicated EV-only parking spaces, council data shows.
In Sydney's eastern suburbs, undedicated chargers get blocked constantly and sit idle. One charger on Ocean St, North Bondi recorded 988 charging sessions over a year.
An undedicated charger one kilometre away had just 40 sessions. Council data found dedicated chargers used four times more than undedicated ones.
Many in the EV industry expect most of the new chargers will be undedicated. The government's models assume each charger will support 30 electric vehicles.
But real-world analysis suggests only three. Unless councils negotiate dedicated parking, the program's benefit may fall far short of promises.
- 14,000
- New chargers planned
- 988 in one year
- North Bondi dedicated charger sessions
- 40 in one year
- Nearby undedicated charger sessions
- About 3 per cent
- EVs on the road
Why it mattersPetrol cars blocking chargers could discourage EV adoption. It could waste billions in public charging infrastructure.
AustraliaAustralian EV drivers in apartments and dense suburbs will struggle to find usable chargers unless councils insist on dedicated parking during rollout.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
