This grant supports charge point operators (CPOs) to construct fast charging stations across the state.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $80,000,000
- Application opened: 16 January 2023
- Application closed: 10 March 2023, 5:00 pm
Program objective
We’re working to make NSW the easiest place to buy and use an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, with a $149 million investment to develop a world-class fast charging network across the state.
A key action under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, this investment will support and encourage growth of the EV market by:
- overcoming range anxiety through the development of a broad, visible and accessible fast charging network across NSW
- ensuring connectivity between metropolitan and regional areas
- future-proofing the EV charging network past 2030
- co-funding private industry to build, own and operate the charging stations
- maximising grid support and reducing emissions.
This program is funded and administered by Office of Energy and Climate Change.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- an entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001(Cth)
- a state-owned corporation or subsidiary of an Australian state or territory owned corporation
- a local government or council in NSW.
Who can’t apply
- an entity who does not have a valid ABN for their organisation or any partner organisation
- an entity who does not have the appropriate insurance in place
- an entity who is not either:
- incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001(Cth)
- a state-owned corporation or subsidiary of an Australian state or territory owned corporation
- a local government or council in NSW
- an entity (including their partners / financiers) who cannot privately fund 50% or more (on average) across their bid for standard stream charging stations and 30% or more across their bid for fast track stream charging stations
- an entity who does not agree to participate in knowledge sharing activities related to the project.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Co-funding fast charging stations
The Drive electric NSW EV fast charging grants will support charge point operators (CPOs) to construct fast charging stations across the state. Round 2 applications are now open until Friday 10 March 2023 to AEST 5 pm.
There will be 3 co-funding rounds to support the construction of these stations.
Applicants must fund a minimum of 50% of the total project capital cost for standard stream sites and a minimum of 30% for fast-track stream sites. Applicants can apply for up to $30 million in funding across eligible locations in round 2.
Co-funding can also incorporate on-site renewable energy generation and battery storage at EV charging stations.
Funding will be prioritised for projects that can demonstrate both value for money and merit, including building regional charging stations, innovation in station design and diversity of locations proposed.
What can’t you apply for
- activities that directly relate to NSW Government planning assessment processes, such as:
- biodiversity studies
- heritage studies
- noise, air quality and traffic studies
- water, waste and hazardous material studies.
- activities that directly relate to the cost of preparing a bid for the purposes of cofunding charging stations.
- expenditure related to the general operations and administration of the recipient entity that the recipient could reasonably be expected to be undertaken in the normal course of business. This includes, but is not limited to:
- the electricity charges associated with existing charging stations operated by a recipient, or stations co-funded by the NSW Government
- electricity demand charges of all current and future charging stations– taxes related to current and future charging stations
- any foreign exchange/forex associated costs.
- expenditure on activities that a local, state, territory or Commonwealth government agency has the responsibility to undertake
- interest on loans for new and pre-existing capital items used for the charging station/s
- expenditure on the acquisition of land for charging station/s
- sales or promotional activities that do not directly support the successful completion of the charging station/s
- membership fees, donations, or any other expenditure that the Office determines does not directly support the successful completion of the charging station/s
- activities that directly relate to NSW Government planning assessment processes, such as:
- biodiversity studies
- heritage studies
- noise, air quality and traffic studies
- water, waste and hazardous material studies.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Download a sample application form (PDF 168.34KB) to see all the sections that need to be addressed in the applications portal. You can also download the complete Grant Guidelines (PDF 5.92MB).
Prepare your application with this checklist
An application checklist has been prepared to assist potential applicants with their bid development and should be read in conjunction with the EV fast charging grants guidelines.
You can download the checklist (DOCX 604.15KB) or view it below under eligibility criteria.
Address the eligibility criteria
Applicants must be eligible to put in a bid for funding. The below table outlines the eligibility requirements for all applicants.
| Eligibility | Eligibility requirements |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Criterion A: Minimum applicant requirements | Applicants must:
|
| Eligibility Criterion B: Eligible charging infrastructure projects | To be eligible your project must:
|
| Eligibility Criterion C: Payment interoperability and public accessibility | To be eligible your project must also:
|
Address the assessment criteria
| Eligibility | Eligibility requirements |
|---|---|
| Merit criterion A: Cost and sizing of charging infrastructure and the value for money offered by your project | Charging infrastructure will be given merit in line with the following parameters per zone:
Project cost will be assessed based on the following information:
|
| Merit criterion B: Proposed charging station locations | The NSW Government wants to see how your project will deliver a diverse array of stations across NSW. Greater merit will be given to bids that propose charging stations in multiple regions across NSW. Bids will be assessed for merit in relation to the project location with consideration to the following priority ranking:
You may provide a rationale for your project locations and demonstrate the strengths and features such as whether a site:
|
| Merit criterion C: Charging station design and project delivery | The NSW Government wants to see how your project will be planned and delivered, including station design and layout. Bids will be assessed for merit in relation to the project design and strength of methodology for construction and management of the charging stations proposed within each bid. Consideration will be given to the following:
|
| Merit criterion D: Network access | Importance will be placed on the validity and feasibility of the proposed site network connections, and how progressed they are. The NSW Government will assess bids based on the status of their network connection at each proposed site, in line with the following 5 network connection stages, listed highest to lowest priority:
You can find out more information about your local DNSP’s network connection process on their website: |
| Merit criterion E: Renewable energy and battery storage | Bids can display additional merit with charging sites that have renewable energy and/or battery storage systems included. Consideration for renewable energy sources will be given to the following:
If a bid proposes to use battery storage systems, they will be assessed for merit with consideration of the following:
|
| Merit criterion F: Applicant capabilities and capacity | Applicants can show their organisation and their partner’s organisation’s capabilities and capacity to undertake the project by identifying:
|
| Merit criterion G: Support jobs and economic growth | Applicants can demonstrate how their projects support jobs and economic growth through identifying:
|
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Office of Energy and Climate Change
The table below covers each engagement point between the Office and applicants throughout the application and assessment process.
| Engagement point | Description |
|---|---|
| During bid preparation stage | Applicants can seek clarification on program related issues in writing while the round is open for bids. The Office can determine whether to respond to the clarification. Where the Office chooses to respond, it may respond by written notice to all organisations registered on the GMS (together with an anonymized copy of the request itself). |
| Receipt of bid | Applicants will be notified when their bid has been successfully submitted. |
| Eligibility: request for more information | The Office may choose to ask specific applicants for minor clarification or additional information if it is needed to deem a bid eligible. Applicants will not be given any chance to improve their overall bid. If the applicant responds to this request, the assessment panel will determine if their bid is eligible or ineligible. |
| Applicant presentation | Applicants may choose to present their bid (once deemed eligible) to the assessment panel. This will consist of a 30 minute presentation and 15 minutes for the panel to ask any clarifying questions. This is an optional meeting at the discretion of the applicant. |
| Assessment outcome | Following the final decision of the assessment panel and NSW Government approval of successful and unsuccessful bids, the Office will provide written advice to all applicants of the outcome. Successful applicants will be invited to proceed with funding agreement negotiations. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed of why their bid was unsuccessful and invited to apply for future funding rounds. If requested by the applicant, further feedback will be provided by the Office in a follow up session at an agreed time. |
| Funding agreement execution | The Office will proceed to negotiate funding agreements with successful applicants. |
Support and contact
For more information about the grant and application process, you can head to the Energy NSW website.