The Electric Vehicle Council's (EVC) 'State of EVs' report highlights that investment in grid infrastructure and smart charging technology is crucial for the successful rollout of electric vehicles (EVs), with sales expected to rise by 15-19% in 2026.

The 'State of Electric Vehicles 2024' report emphasises the significance of the broader clean energy transition to ensure Australia can fully realise the benefits of increased EV adoption.

The report defines the "gold standard" as substantial progress in decarbonising the electricity grid through a greater share of renewable energy sources, which are essential to support the future of electrified transport and the development of the EV value chain.

In addition to government support, the report identifies the streamlining of network connection processes as a critical need, while grid orchestration is considered a "nice to have" element, serving as a foundation for dynamic connection agreements that align with grid capabilities and demands.

EVC Head of Legal Policy and Advocacy Aman Gaur stated that with the appropriate investments and policies, Australia could accelerate the EV transition, enabling more Australians to make the switch and supporting a sustainable future.

"The expansion of our national charging network, with over 1,000 fast and ultra-fast locations, is driving EV sales growth. To maintain this momentum, governments must continue investing in public charging, including kerbside options, and explore solutions for Australians without off-street parking," Gaur said.

"There is also a need for stronger efforts from government, industry, and other organisations to address misinformation about EVs, as it undermines public support and hinders the transition. Additionally, all levels of government must implement consistent policies to boost EV supply and remove barriers to electrifying transport," Gaur further added.

The EVC suggests that distributed network service providers (DNSPs) can support EV uptake by sharing electrical grid data to facilitate public charger deployment. The state-owned NSW DNSP Essential Energy's procedure is cited as a gold standard, as it provides insights into the estimated capacity of their low-voltage network, allowing organisations to rapidly assess geographic areas for equipment deployment.

Demonstrating the potential of sharing existing data in an accessible way, Essential Energy's approach reduces the number of individual applications required for businesses planning multiple EV infrastructure sites.

It also increases the likelihood that selected sites will be suitable for deployment. The EVC encourages all DNSPs to implement similar systems to Essential Energy's tool, enabling organisations to leverage network capacity data and expedite the deployment of EV charging infrastructure across the country.