Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has launched a significant $1.43 million project, backed by $1.06 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to develop the nation’s first comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) charging roadmap. Announced on October 13, 2026, this initiative aims to strategically map future charging demand and identify critical infrastructure gaps across metropolitan and regional Australia, with the full roadmap due for release by mid-2027.
The project comes as EV adoption continues its rapid acceleration, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for nearly one in four new cars sold in Australia during September 2026. With over 600,000 battery-electric vehicles already on Australian roads by June 2026, the need for a coordinated national approach to charging infrastructure has become critical.
Unlocking Confidence for EV Drivers
Julie Delvecchio, EVC chief executive, highlighted the importance of strategic investment in charging. “Charging investment is accelerating, but infrastructure needs to be scaled strategically,” Delvecchio stated. The roadmap will bring together key stakeholders, including automakers, charging operators, consumer groups, electricity networks, and fleet operators, to ensure a holistic understanding of Australia’s future EV charging needs for both passenger and heavy vehicles through to 2035.
“A reliable and well-planned charging network will be critical to supporting Australia’s transport transition.” — Darren Miller, CEO, ARENA
ARENA CEO Darren Miller underscored the project’s significance, noting, “A reliable and well-planned charging network will be critical to supporting Australia’s transport transition. While investment in charging infrastructure continues to grow, it’s important that future deployment is guided by a clear understanding of where demand will emerge across households, businesses, freight and public charging.”
Addressing Infrastructure Gaps and Future Demand
The current public charging landscape in Australia, while growing, still presents challenges. As of June 2026, there were 11,602 public charging points across 4,268 locations, marking an 18% increase in sites and a 41% increase in connectors year-on-year. However, the distribution and power of these chargers vary significantly by state, and ensuring adequate coverage, particularly for long-distance travel and in regional areas, remains a key concern for consumers and industry alike.
Recent developments underscore the ongoing push for more charging options. Just this week, bp pulse officially opened a 24-bay EV charging hub at Melbourne Airport, featuring 150kW and 300kW chargers, making it Australia’s largest operational site. Concurrently, Tesla has lodged plans for an even larger 37-bay Supercharger site in Albury, NSW, representing a proposed $3.5 million investment to enhance critical interstate corridor charging. These individual projects, while vital, highlight the need for a national framework to ensure coherence and efficiency.
The Roadmap’s Key Focus Areas
The EVC-led roadmap aims to:
- Assess Emerging Charging Demand: Quantify the future needs for various vehicle types, from passenger cars to heavy freight. This will include considering different charging speeds and locations.
- Identify Infrastructure Pressure Points: Pinpoint areas where existing infrastructure is insufficient or where future demand will outstrip supply, creating potential “blackspots” or bottlenecks.
- Inform Investment Decisions: Provide data and recommendations to guide both government and private sector investment, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to build a robust and equitable charging network.
For Australian businesses operating electric fleets, this roadmap will provide crucial guidance on future charging requirements, from depot upgrades to en-route charging for long-haul operations. Businesses planning their transition to electric heavy vehicles can consult resources like How to Prepare Your Australian Fleet Depot for Megawatt Electric Truck Charging in 2026: A Complete Guide to align with evolving infrastructure. The roadmap will also consider broader grid integration, including technologies like Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), which are increasingly relevant as EVs become mobile energy assets. For more on this, see V2G/V2H in Australia 2026: Is Your EV a $7,000 Home Battery Worth It?.
The Path Forward
The development of this national roadmap is a critical step towards de-risking investment for industry and building greater consumer confidence in EV ownership. By providing a clear, evidence-based strategy, Australia can accelerate its transition to a decarbonised transport sector, ensuring that charging infrastructure keeps pace with – or ideally, anticipates – the growing demand for electric vehicles. The mid-2027 release of the roadmap will mark a significant milestone in Australia’s journey towards widespread EV adoption, promising a future where range anxiety is a concern of the past.
Charging Infrastructure Overview
| Metric | June 2026 Data | Growth (YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Charging Points | 11,602 | +41% |
| Public Charging Locations | 4,268 | +18% |
| Average Points per High-Power Site | 3.5 | N/A |
| NSW Public Charging Points | 4,726 | N/A |
| NSW DC Connectors | 1,985 | N/A |
| NSW AC Plugs | 2,741 | N/A |