Electric vehicle (EV) drivers who park in Adelaide’s CBD have more options to power up, thanks to an innovative EV Smart Charging Trial launched this week.
Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis, AGL general manager emerging business Bruce Hardy and Wilson Parking chief technology officer Paul Sidwell launched the first of 18 EV charging systems that will help comprise the EV Smart Charging Trials, at the Wilson Parking City West car park.
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The EV Smart Charging Trials will support the electrification of South Australia’s transport fleet, playing a vital role in the overall transition from carbon-emitting technologies to a greener, cleaner future.
The trials will demonstrate ways in which electric vehicle drivers can be incentivized to charge during periods of high renewable electricity generation or low grid demand.
AGL and Wilson Parking are playing an important part in the Smart Charging Trials by helping drivers charge at times convenient to them, while easing charging demand during peak pressure times on the energy grid.
Overall, the integration of smart charging will improve affordability, reliability and security of electricity supply for South Australians, along with aiding AGL’s understanding of EV use in public carparks by collecting data, analysing usage and monitoring charging behaviours.
Corporate, fleet and individual customers are being encouraged to take up the opportunity of an electrified car space. This will allow Wilson Parking subscribed customers access to their own EV charging bays, with all-day charging, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to their bays and unlimited entries and exits.
Corporate, fleet and individual customers will be offered EV subscription pricing options which will include the availability to sign up to a flat-rate subscription model with bundled electricity costs.
In addition to the CBD location, EV charging stations will also be provided at the Wilson Parking car park located at Lot Fourteen, while AGL will provide up to six EVs and 10 smart chargers to Centacare and Uniting Communities to help these community organisations transition their commercial fleets to EVs and enable workplace and home charging.
Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis said, “Our clean energy transformation is not only lowering transport costs but creating a cleaner and healthier environment for all South Australians. With the EV Smart Charging Trials, we will have 142 EV charging stations installed and monitored across South Australia.
“The information and data that we will gain from the trials will help build our EV future and allow us to seamlessly integrate over one million EVs into our electricity system over the next 20 years.”
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AGL general manager emerging business Bruce Hardy said, “This trial will boost availability of public charging infrastructure, helping drive even greater uptake of EVs in South Australia.
“These EV smart chargers will allow drivers to plug in and charge their vehicles at a parking space when and where it’s more convenient for them and at times when there is more renewable energy in the grid.”
