AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said governments at all levels had failed to invest in adequate EV charging stations.
“Energy and environmentally conscious Aussies are expected to drive a significant increase in EV sales this year, but right now there are not enough recharge stations to service existing EV drivers,” he said.
“Public infrastructure charging is being rolled out slowly by the federal and state and territory governments, however, most only include slow charging equipment.
“That means they can only be used by two cars at once, potentially leaving other drivers waiting hours before they are even able to plug in,” Mr Foukkare said.
Mr Foukkare said small business convenience stores want to install EV charging points to cater for increased demand, however the cost to upgrade their existing power grid and allow for fast charging made it financially unviable.
“They want to be part of this significant, environmentally responsible change but the problem is most of our small business members don’t have the half-million dollars needed to bankroll upgrades to their power grid,” he said.
Mr Foukkare said targeted state, territory and federal government grants programs would help smaller convenience stores to move with the times.
He also warned that the slower charging stations being rolled out by governments often lacked access to basic amenities.
“Australian motorists expect amenities like toilets, a place to sit and eat or enjoy a coffee, free WiFi and even somewhere to do a small grocery top up,” he said.
“Our members already have those facilities – and they employ more than 70,000 people across Australia – so they could certainly do with the extra custom.
“The new EV charging companies don’t understand mobility trends and consumer usage like the Convenience and Mobility sector does – we’ve have been doing it for decades,” he said.
Mr Foukkare said a grants program would also help to address a “charging void” for the thousands of Australian drivers who do not have the ability to re-charge an EV at home.
“About 25 per cent of Australia drivers don’t have off street parking, so short of running an extension cord from their house to the street – they will need to be able to recharge at a local convenience store,” he said.
Media contact: Rhett Burnie – 0411 830 126
Scenes of electric vehicle (EV) drivers banked up and forced to wait hours to recharge their cars across the festive season have again highlighted how ill prepared Australia is for the predicted surge in uptake of EVs, the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has warned.
AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said governments at all levels had failed to invest in adequate EV charging stations.
“Energy and environmentally conscious Aussies are expected to drive a significant increase in EV sales this year, but right now there are not enough recharge stations to service existing EV drivers,” he said.
“Public infrastructure charging is being rolled out slowly by the federal and state and territory governments, however, most only include slow charging equipment.
“That means they can only be used by two cars at once, potentially leaving other drivers waiting hours before they are even able to plug in,” Mr Foukkare said.
Mr Foukkare said small business convenience stores want to install EV charging points to cater for increased demand, however the cost to upgrade their existing power grid and allow for fast charging made it financially unviable.
“They want to be part of this significant, environmentally responsible change but the problem is most of our small business members don’t have the half-million dollars needed to bankroll upgrades to their power grid,” he said.
Mr Foukkare said targeted state, territory and federal government grants programs would help smaller convenience stores to move with the times.
He also warned that the slower charging stations being rolled out by governments often lacked access to basic amenities.
“Australian motorists expect amenities like toilets, a place to sit and eat or enjoy a coffee, free WiFi and even somewhere to do a small grocery top up,” he said.
“Our members already have those facilities – and they employ more than 70,000 people across Australia – so they could certainly do with the extra custom.
“The new EV charging companies don’t understand mobility trends and consumer usage like the Convenience and Mobility sector does – we’ve have been doing it for decades,” he said.
Mr Foukkare said a grants program would also help to address a “charging void” for the thousands of Australian drivers who do not have the ability to re-charge an EV at home.
“About 25 per cent of Australia drivers don’t have off street parking, so short of running an extension cord from their house to the street – they will need to be able to recharge at a local convenience store,” he said.
Media contact: Rhett Burnie – 0411 830 126
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