Electric vehicle enthusiasts who live in high density areas will become revved up as the government invests in extra street-side car chargers.

The federal government’s renewable energy agency has provided $871,000 to utility services company Intellihub for 50 power pole-mounted EV chargers across NSW, the first of which will become operational on Tuesday.

For residents of units, terraces or townhouses, this could be their sign to invest in an electric car, Energy Minister Chris Bowen says.

“A lack of charging infrastructure is a challenge to the uptake of EVs, with a quarter of Australian households currently unable to charge from home because they don’t have access to off-street parking,” he said on Tuesday.

“The power pole installations will give more people confidence to buy or lease their own EV.”

Chargers will be installed in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, lower north shore and northern beaches with some also on offer near Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.

The announcement is part of the government’s plans to improve electric vehicle uptake, after it rolled out a 117 chargers along the national highway network and cut taxes on EVs.

Kat Wong
(Australian Associated Press)