JOLT has established a network of fast public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in several Adelaide Council areas, supported by the Government of South Australia and ARENA. The network of EV chargers is designed to address the barriers to EV uptake, increase accessibility to public EV charging, and accelerate the transition to decarbonised transportation.

Through an innovative advertiser-funded model, JOLT provides these charging stations at zero-cost to councils, while also delivering free fast charging to the community which is 100% renewable. Councils are able to deliver on their sustainability and integrated transport initiatives without allocating ratepayer funds to these capital intensive projects.

Through the initial installation of 24 chargers, with further deployments planned to meet the demand, JOLT has delivered a reliable charging network, especially for those EV owners who do not have the benefit of overnight charging at home. EV uptake in Adelaide continues to lead those of other capital cities, with great utilisation rates of charging stations necessitating further chargers.

JOLT’s innovative model provides free charging up to 7 kWh per day every day for EV owners. The 7 kWh offers people up to 45 km worth of free driving which is ideally suited to urban driving around Adelaide, on average around 30 to 35 km per day. In the context of energy insecurity and soaring fuel costs and general cost of living, to have this option eases the financial burden, saving families over $1,100 per year on energy bills by charging on the JOLT network.

The display screens integrated with the charging units provide community benefits such as promoting social objectives or community messaging around sustainability initiatives, local and national charities and causes such as the Cancer Council, RSL Australia and the Big Issue.

JOLT partners with councils to promote strategic outcomes for the benefit of the community. Public charging also provides improved accessibility for the broader community, particularly for those people who do not have the benefit of a garage at home to charge overnight. This essential infrastructure facilitates this segment of the community with the ability to reliably and exclusively charge at a public network. It takes around 20 minutes for an EV to charge 7 kWh, varying depending on the model, which also provides enough dwell time for the drivers to carry out the daily routine. Local business are also the beneficiary of increased foot traffic and consumer activity for the retailers in the local community.

Through the use of 100% renewable energy, certified by GreenPower, JOLT is tackling the second most significant contributor to council area emissions profiles, that being transportation. With more EVs on the roads being charged exclusively by renewable energy, emissions in this sector will fall with improved air quality and health outcomes resulting. Since the installation of the first charger almost 2 years ago, JOLT has delivered over 500,000 km of driving range, representing a significant reduction in carbon emissions produced by transport.

We decided to nominate to acknowledge the great work of the JOLT team members, along with our local contracting partners who have worked tirelessly to install and maintain these EV chargers. But we also wanted to promote the role of government and, in particular, those councils who are proactively pursuing meaningful sustainability initiatives that will make significant impacts on the future liveability of Adelaide, all from a social, environmental, economic and public health lens.

JOLT is leading the acceleration of EV adoption, by making EVs more accessible and shaping positive outcomes for the community. More broadly, Australia is at a crossroads with making systemic change to embed sustainability across government, business and individual spectrums. Taking this leap of faith with a proudly-Australian start-up, emboldens other would-be Australian start-ups to also demonstrate their abilities at not only a domestic stage but a global one as well.

Everything is relatively close in Adelaide, affording short commutes, less time on the roads stuck in traffic, which in turn provides a fantastic work/life balance.

Adelaide is an affordable city with living costs much cheaper than other states, so your hard earned money goes further. We have everything on our front doorstep, amazing beaches, magnificent wineries, hiking trails and national parks.

The state has also actively pursued policy settings which incentivise the use of renewable energy, which in turn has dramatically reduced energy prices and increased reliability. It is great to see ourselves as leaders in this area.

This is only the beginning of the journey in Australia, when it comes to the decarbonisation and electrification of transport and the deployment of adequate fast public EV charging infrastructure to accommodate the rapid uptake of EVs. This industry represents huge growth potential, with the future already playing out before our eyes in Europe, the US, and China to mention a few more-advanced EV markets. This industry also represents stability in the face of increased global energy insecurity and rising cost of living pressures, as well as a chance to cement Australia as a sustainability leader on a global scale, creating thousands of new jobs and economic opportunities at home. By adopting this emerging technology, Australia will have a fighting chance to achieve its net zero goals.

This is also just the beginning for JOLT. We are now the largest network operator of fast DC charging infrastructure across Adelaide, with plans to continue the deployment of charging stations to meet the rapid increase in demand.

This network will continue to grow across Australia, with exciting new developments happening in collaboration with new partners and product lines. JOLT has also since expanded into New Zealand with our first charger installed last month, with more to follow.

We see ourselves as meeting an essential gap in the market, while being a job creator across the country.

The Premier’s Awards are essential to increasing the exposure of the EV industry, given it is still in its early stages. The industry has enormous unlocked potential to make meaningful inroads towards our net zero goals as well as capturing huge economic value for businesses, communities and the drivers.

Government recognition and support plays a vital role in validating industries and ensuring mainstream adoption for emerging technology.

We recently received feedback from one of our customers who did not have access to charging at home and reached out to thank us for the service we provided. Relying on our network to ensure they can get from A to B, the customer was interested in the network roll out plan to see if more chargers were on the way to further fill the void and excited by how much he was able to save on charging costs by charging on the JOLT network. It was then we realised we had a solution that was solving a big problem in people’s lives.

Progressive mindsets of South Australian Government and local councils. This has had flow on effects to other states, who now see themselves as playing catch-up to the market leader.

A collaborative, we-are-all-in-this-together attitude of the EV industry.

An ability to embrace emerging, sustainable technology.

Everything is relatively close in Adelaide, affording short commutes, less time on the roads stuck in traffic, which in turn provides a fantastic work/life balance. Adelaide is an affordable city with living costs much cheaper than other states, so your hard earned money goes further.

We have everything on our front doorstep, amazing beaches, magnificent wineries, hiking trails and national parks.

The state has also actively pursued policy settings which incentivise the use of renewable energy, which in turn has dramatically reduced energy prices and increased reliability. It is great to see ourselves as leaders in this area.

Patience and perseverance is essential in this industry. We are at a crossroads in terms of implementing a systemic shift towards more sustainable ways of living and operating. This does not come easy and will mean a concerted effort must be maintained to educate and inform but at the same time learn and listen.