Australia will develop its first national roadmap to help industry and governments understand and plan the charging infrastructure needed to support millions more electric vehicles and a growing fleet of electric trucks expected on Australian roads by 2035.
Led by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), the project will bring together car manufacturers, charge point operators, consumer groups, electricity networks, fleet operators, and other stakeholders to develop the evidence base of future charging needs that will help plan Australia’s EV charging system.
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The $1.43 million National EV Charging Roadmap is supported by $1.06 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Driving the Nation Program and contributions from the EVC and project partners.
EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said that while charging investment was accelerating, a key challenge was scaling infrastructure strategically.
“The debate about whether Australians will choose electric vehicles is increasingly behind us,” Delvecchio said.
“The options are here, and Australians are buying them in record numbers. The focus now needs to be on what happens next—so our charging system scales as EV adoption grows.
“The challenge is not simply to deliver more chargers, but to ensure we invest in the right charging infrastructure nationally, in the right places, at the right time. That requires a more coordinated approach to transport, energy and infrastructure planning.
“Other major EV markets have recognised the value of coordinated national planning. This Roadmap will bring that to Australia, shaped around our distances, our electricity system and the needs of everything from passenger cars to heavy trucks.”
EVC head of energy, infrastructure, and commercial, and roadmap project director Dr Alina Dini said broad industry consultation would be central to developing a practical, evidence-based roadmap.
“Australia’s charging challenge is not a lack of activity,” Dr Dini said.
“Significant investment and innovation are underway, but decisions across different sectors are often being made independently, without a shared understanding of future demand.
“This roadmap is about bringing those pieces together so the sector can work from a common national vision.
“[It] will be a planning and coordination tool rather than a fixed prediction or prescription. Its scenarios and priorities will provide a common evidence base to inform investment and decision making as EV uptake, charging technology, consumer behaviour, home charging, network investment and heavy vehicle electrification evolve.”
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The final National EV Charging Roadmap is due for release in mid-2027.
Stakeholders who want to contribute to the roadmap are encouraged to sign up for project updates and consultation opportunities here.
