Australia’s first ultra-rapid charging station unveiled

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Melbourne-based start-up Chargefox has cut the ribbon at the first ultra-rapid EV charging station in Australia, marking the beginning of its nation-wide rollout of renewables-powered charging points that will allow EVs to add up to 400 km of range in just 15 minutes.

The station located in Euroa, Victoria, features a 350kW Terra HP charging station provided by Swiss-headquartered power electronics firm ABB, which has been chosen by Chargefox as a key technology partner and and supplier for its ultra-rapid charging network. 

The Euroa site is backed by 150 kW of solar PV (100kW on the station roof and 50kW on the ground) and a 273 kW/410 kWh ABB battery.

The station was officially launched by Victorian Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio, who used the occasion to announce another $2 million funding to support charging stations in Melbourne, Ballarat, Horsham, Torquay and Traralgon.

Earlier this year, Chargefox received $1 million from the Victorian Labor government to develop charging stations at Euroa and Barnawartha North – the latter is expected to open soon and feature a new solar installation.

Overall, the project managed to garner $15 million in funding from a a combination of sources including investment from the Australian Mobility Clubs (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT) – now the largest shareholder, Wilson Transformers and the founder of Carsales, Greg Roebuck, and grants from Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Victorian Government.

The ultra-rapid network will extend to a total of 21 sites to be launched before 2020 on interstate highways across the east coast connecting major capital cities including Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and separately north and south of Perth.

Chargefox used the launch to announce it had closed partnership with Audi, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz, which had seen the carmakers commit to using the ultra-rapid charging network.

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