The South Australian Government has announced the first four recipients of funding available to energy businesses, local government and non government organisations to make sure electric vehicles support the grid and use the cheapest, cleanest power.
The $3.6 million EV Smart Charging Trials Grants Program is designed to make sure Electric Vehicle charging absorbs excess renewables whilst reducing pressure on the power grid - to make it cheaper and cleaner to own an electric car.
One of the key objectives of the trials is for electric vehicles to charge during periods of high renewable electricity generation or low demand to support the power grid while encouraging more people to take up the South Australian Government's $3,000 and 3-year registration fee exemption electric vehicle subsidies.
“South Australia’s world class renewable resources creates a fantastic opportunity to use electric vehicles as a bank of mobile batteries to strengthening our energy grid,” said South Australia's Deputy Premier.
“These trials mean that if you park your car in a city car park, use a car that’s part of a commercial fleet, or you’re just charging on the go - that you’re helping support the power grid.
“It could mean that instead of the petrol price cycle, you could get predictably cheaper charging managed while you’re at work.
“The trials will support the market in rolling these out more broadly in future years, benefitting all South Australians by contributing to the reliability, security and affordable of our clean energy system.”
Today’s announcement comes after the South Australian Government committed $12.25 million to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) with a new EV smart charging subsidy for South Australia households.
Over the next four years, 7,500 subsidies of up to $2,000 will be available to households, with new or existing plug-in EVs, that invest in smart charging solutions that monitor and respond to household and electricity network events.
The home smart charging investment is on top of the $3,000 purchase subsidy and the 3-year registration fee exemption for 7,000 new EVs.
Over the next four years it is forecast that plug-in EVs on our roads could grow from approximately 1,900 to more than 29,000 vehicles.
Recipients
- AGL Energy Services Pty Limited – Wilson Parking Adelaide CBD, Marion, Uniting Communities and Centacare – Commercial fleet charging
- Chargefox Pty Ltd – Rapid DC Time of Use Pricing Smart Charging Trial
- JOLT Charge Pty Limited – 50kW Rapid Charger and Dynamic Signal Pricing Trial
- The Corporation of the City of Adelaide - UPark EV Fleet Smart Charging Trial
More information about the grant funded trials is available on the Smart Charging Trials page of this website.
Thursday 23 December 2021
