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The good news is that Sydney boasts a growing network of public EV charging stations, meaning it’s easier than ever to keep your EV powered up. These stations are conveniently located across the city, from inner-city hubs to suburban neighbourhoods. Several major players operate these stations, each with their own apps and payment systems.
Chargefox & NRMA: Chargefox is Australia’s largest EV charging network and is owned and operated by the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, and RACT. They offer a mix of fast chargers (DC) and regular chargers (AC). Download their app to locate stations, check live availability, and initiate and pay for charging sessions.
Evie: Evie offers a growing network of fast charging stations (DC) across Sydney and Australia, all using 100% renewable energy.
Tesla Supercharger: These high-powered stations provide the fastest charging option. There are now over 60 of these in Australia, located along major highways, and they can add a whopping 275 km of range in just 15 minutes! While in the past these were restricted to Tesla owners, select supercharging stations are now accessible to non-Tesla EV drivers (you will need a CCS plug). Either way, you will need the Tesla app to use these.
Share with Oscar: Through partnerships with developers, hotels and parking providers, Share with Oscar offers easy access to charging infrastructure, making it convenient for EV owners to charge their vehicles. They offer this in short term, medium term and long term options, Meaning you can charge your vehicle while you do your shopping.
AmpCharge: Another growing network that is rolling out ultra-fast (DC) EV chargers at selected Ampol service stations across Sydney. Download their app to locate stations, check availability, and pay for charging.
Once you’re familiar with the key providers, it’s time to find a station! Here are some resources that can help you do that:
Apps: Each charging station provider offers its own app for locating stations, checking availability, and initiating charging. Many also offer other useful features, such as real-time updates on charging speeds and estimated wait times.
Websites: Most charging station providers maintain websites with interactive maps that allow you to search for stations by location and filter by charger type (AC or DC).
Live Maps: Several websites and apps, like Plugshare, offer user-generated maps which have real-time information on charging station availability.
With a little forward planning, incorporating charging stops into your Sydney adventures becomes a breeze. Here are some tips for longer trips when charging becomes more important:
Identify charging stations along your route before you leave: Before embarking on a longer trip, use the resources mentioned above to identify stations along your planned route.
Factor in charging times: AC chargers typically take longer than DC chargers. Consider this when planning your stops and estimate how much charge you’ll need to reach your destination. Charging times can vary widely between different chargers.
Check availability: Using the provider’s app, you can check live station availability and avoid waiting or needing to make unnecessary detours.
EV charging stations come in two main varieties: AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current). AC chargers, also known as Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, are similar to the outlets that you use at home. Level 1 chargers tend to be slower, while Level 2 chargers offer faster charging. DC chargers, also known as Level 3 chargers, are the speed demons of the bunch. These deliver power directly to the car’s battery, bypassing the onboard AC/DC converter, and this delivers much faster charging times – perfect for topping up your battery during a quick stop.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the different charger types and their typical charging speeds:
AC Level 1: Adds around 5-8 km of range per hour. Best for overnight charging at home. This is typically the cheapest way to charge your EV and, because it generates less heat than faster chargers, it’s usually the best choice to maintain your charger health.
AC Level 2: Adds around 25-75 km of range per hour. This is a good option for public charging and topping up your battery while you’re out and about, though it’s not great for longer journeys.
DC Level 3 (Fast Charger): Adds around 100-350 km of range in around 30 minutes. Perfect for longer trips when you need to get your range back up quickly.
It’s important to note that the above is a general guide only. Charging times can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the battery pack, your car’s onboard charging system, and the available power output of the station. However, this should give you a general idea of what to expect from each charger type.
The plug types on EV charging cables can differ by vehicle manufacturer or when a car was built. And there are a few different ones out there. The good news is that these are (slowly) standardising, and the number of different plug types is decreasing, though it can be a bit confusing in the meantime.
There are 3 main plug types that you’re likely to see in Australia, and some cars will work with multiple plug types.
AC Charging: In Australia, you are likely to come across the Type 2 or Mennekes plug.
DC Charging: The 2 common plug types in Australia are the CCS2 or CHAdeMO plugs.
If you’d like to know more, the NRMA has a great explainer on different plug types.
Share with Oscar already has proven positive impacts on climate and congestion with EV Parking Solutions in Sydney and beyond. Here at Oscar we are committed to promoting sustainable transportation options. While we can’t provide you with an EV ourselves, we do offer something equally valuable: access to parking spaces equipped with EV charging stations in major Australian cities.
Sydney’s EV future is bright, and exploring Sydney in an electric vehicle has never been easier. As new models reach our shores, the charging infrastructure grows, and charge times decrease, we expect the popularity of EVs to continue to rise. Through partnerships with developers and parking providers, we facilitate easy access to charging infrastructure, making it convenient for EV owners to charge their vehicles while parked. We offer this in our short term, medium term and long term options, Meaning you can charge your vehicle while you do your shopping.
Hop on to our app today to explore the full list of parking locations we offer!
Happy Parking!