Supported under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENAs) Driving the Nation Program, these projects will advance a range of solutions and represent a major step forward in building the infrastructure and insights to support Australia’s transition to zero-emission transport.
Across novel approaches to public charging and strengthening industry collaboration, ARENA is paving the way for a cleaner transport future and making electric vehicles more practical for Australians.
The three projects will deliver a range of outcomes, including:
- Flow Power: $18,066,000 (USD 12 million) to develop and operate a network of ultrafast battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging stations across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, in partnership with Gridserve Global.
- Essential Energy: $2,300,000 to deploy public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in rural and regional NSW, improving access and equity for EV drivers outside metropolitan areas.
- UTS & RACE for 2030 CRC: $1,089,620 to establish Australia’s first national Vehicle-Grid Network, a three-year collaboration to accelerate EV grid integration with over 20 industry partners.
In addition, ARENA funding recipient Zenobē has today marked the official opening of Australia’s first off-site electric truck charging depot in Mascot, NSW, after receiving funding in September 2024.
The site will house a greenfield BEV charging hub and trial a vehicle as a service (VaaS) business model that will include 60 BEV trucks, 30 dual chargers, a second life stationary battery and smart charging software.
ARENA Chief Exective Officer Darren Miller said ARENA’s support for these projects demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles across Australia.
“By backing innovative projects in EV charging infrastructure, we’re helping to break down barriers and make EVs accessible for more Australians, no matter where they live or drive.”
“The transport sector is on track to become Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030, and these projects demonstrate the rate of progress being made in driving down these emissions, as well as the breadth of solutions required to do the job.”
About ARENA’s focus on Decarbonising Transport
Decarbonising transport is a key strategic priority for ARENA. Transport plays a vital role as an enabler of Australia’s economy, yet is responsible for around 20% of Australia’s emissions.
The government’s latest Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan warns that as the economy grows, demand for transport modes is projected to rise across land, air and sea until at least 2050.
To address this challenge, ARENA is currently focused on supporting projects that accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and low-carbon fuels across both light and heavy road transport. Read more about these focus areas on ARENA’s strategic priorities page.
Through the Driving the Nation fund, ARENA has already allocated $266 million of critical grant funding to support road transport projects. Additional transport-related funding for Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) is scheduled to be delivered by ARENA through the Future Made in Australia (FMA) Innovation Fund .
Our Advancing Renewables Program (ARP) is ARENA’s flagship, always-open funding initiative supporting a broad spectrum of renewable energy projects—from early-stage research and development through to demonstration and pre-commercial deployment.
The ARP is continuously open for applications that align with ARENA’s strategic priorities as set out in the Investment Plan. For more information on Driving the Nation including program guidelines, eligibility criteria, and how to apply, visit ARENA’s funding page.
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