Relevant considerations

Types of electric vehicle chargers

There are three main types of electric vehicle charging: home, destination and inter-regional fast charging.

A key consideration for the Tasmanian Government is determining which type of charging stations, or which mix of charging stations, to support.

Given the Government’s commitment to support publicly available charging stations, the two types of chargers the Government can consider supporting are:

• destination chargers in locations where drivers/electric vehicles remain for an hour or more (businesses, accommodation providers (eg hotels and caravan parks) and visitor/tourist attractions); and/or
• inter-regional fast chargers to enable electric vehicle users to complete longer routes or return journeys.

A key consideration is to determine what type of electric vehicle chargers are required in which locations, to deliver a coordinated electric vehicle charging network.

There are a number of other technical considerations with regard to chargers including compatibility with different electric vehicle types, consistency with market trends and the ability of chargers to be upgraded as technology improves.

Table 1: Types of electric vehicle charging

Question 1: Should the Tasmanian Government support the installation of both destination (slower charge) and Inter-regional DC fast chargers?

Question 2: What factors should be considered in determining what type of charger should be installed where?

Location of electric vehicle chargers

A statewide charging network needs to consider the charging needs of Tasmanian electric vehicle users (individuals and fleets) and electric vehicle tourists. It also needs to consider charging opportunities in both high-population areas and regional areas.

Larger population centres and major highways (eg Hobart, Launceston and Burnie central business districts, and the Midland Highway) are likely to have higher charging use. Usage will derive from local users (including private individuals and fleets, and the tourism industry). Higher usage means these areas are likely to attract private investment in charging infrastructure because they will be commercially viable sooner.

The installation of electric vehicle charging, particularly in regional areas, can have positive
flow-on effects to the economy in terms of attracting visitors through growing the electric vehicle tourism industry.

In determining locations where electric vehicle charging infrastructure could be installed, other key considerations include:

• the distance between charging stations, particularly fast chargers;
• ease of access from major transport routes;
• the ability of the existing electricity network to support the chargers; and
• convenient access across all areas of Tasmania for electric vehicles.

Installing charging infrastructure in regional Tasmania is important to support local users (individuals and fleets) to be able to drive between main population centres, and to support visitor drive journeys (the electric vehicle tourism industry).

Question 3: Which locations (for example high-population areas or less-populated regional areas) should the Tasmanian Government consider as the highest priority for installing electric vehicle charging stations?

Amenity and safety

The site on which a charging station is located can have a considerable impact on
user-experience and is therefore an important consideration.

This includes access to amenities (eg shelter, food and public toilets), security considerations, and characteristics including lighting and visibility of the surrounding area. It also includes ensuring that vehicles not using charging facilities do not block access to charging stations.

It is also important that charging infrastructure complies with appropriate standards for electrical work. In Tasmania relevant legislation includes the Occupational Licencing Act 2005 and the Occupational Licensing (Standards of Electrical Work) Code of Practice 2017.

Question 4: Which amenities are important to have nearby electric vehicle charging stations to facilitate a positive and convenient user-experience?

Operation and maintenance

A key consideration in relation to electric vehicle charging stations is whether users pay to charge their vehicle, and if so how much.

Most fast charging stations incorporate simple user interface payment mechanisms (eg smartphone app, cloud-based accounts or credit card) to cover the ongoing cost of the electricity consumed. There is also the potential for charging stations to offer online bookings to improve the user-experience.

Charging infrastructure also needs to be maintained and may need to be upgraded as technology improves.

The reliability and availability of installed charging stations is another consideration for potential users. For example, there may be waiting periods during peak usage times (eg when people are travelling during holidays or attending large events), or the potential for people to become stranded if a charging station fails to work (eg due to technical issues). Possible solutions to this issue could be to install more than one charger at certain locations, or ensure mobile charger(s) are available for use in Tasmania when needed.

Providers of charging stations also need to offer customer care such as ensuring repairs are undertaken quickly if issues arise.

Ensuring Tasmanian Government supported charging stations remain operational for a reasonable amount of time (eg five to ten years) may be another consideration.

Question 5: What type of operation and maintenance issues should be considered to ensure a positive and convenient user experience?

Question 6: What is the preferred payment mechanism(s) for electric vehicle charging station from a user perspective and an operator perspective?

Question 7: Should charging stations offer an online booking system?

Question 8: What are the expectations of users with regards to reliability and availability of installed charging stations and how could these expectations be met?

Question 9: How important is providing multiple chargers at each site to cover for availability and possible equipment failure?

Cost and funding delivery

A key consideration for the Tasmanian Government is determining the most effective approach to deliver its funding support for charging infrastructure.

An effective delivery model will stimulate the market-led installation of charging infrastructure to increase public charging opportunities across Tasmania. It will also ensure the ongoing operation and management of any installed charging infrastructure.

There are a variety of funding-delivery options available to the Tasmanian Government, including:

• procuring a central coordinator or service provider to manage the installation and ongoing management of the funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and
• partnering with local organisations (eg tourism operators, electricity utilities, councils, local business, private sector providers, and industry groups to manage the installation and ongoing management of the funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The cost of an electric vehicle charging station is dependent on three main variables:

1. Up-front cost of the charger – varies depending on capacity, type and features (eg DC fast chargers are more expensive compared to destination chargers).
2. On-site installation works – varies depending on works required at the location to install the charger and connect it to a switchboard. If the electrical switchboard needs upgrading, the installation cost can increase significantly.
3. Cost for power supply upgrade – may be an issue for higher power chargers and may vary depending on the existing capacity within the network to meet the electricity usage of an electric vehicle charger.

In addition to the capital cost of electric vehicle chargers, there are associated operating costs, including:

• electricity, as levied by the electricity retailer;
• maintenance;
• customer support; and
• billing system costs, which are levied by the billing service provider.

Question 10: What funding delivery model would work best to stimulate potential suppliers to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Tasmania and why?

Question 11: What level of funding (eg a percentage contribution to upfront costs) would be reasonable for potential partner organisations/businesses to make towards the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and why?

Question 12: Who should be responsible for ongoing costs and maintenance?

Question 13: Should fees for charging at a station be based on commercial pricing or be subsidised to some extent?

Visibility and awareness

It is important that local electric vehicle users and potential electric vehicle tourists are aware that charging infrastructure exists in Tasmania and how it can be accessed.

The use of signage, marketing materials and branding of charging infrastructure may assist with charging station visibility and awareness.

Question 14: What should the Tasmanian Government consider in raising community awareness of the statewide electric vehicle charging network?