Fuel company Ampol has launched an Australian electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network, with plans for around 120 DC chargers nationwide by October 2023.
The charging network is being branded AmpCharge, and will commence with five pilot sites at Ampol service stations in Carseldine (Queensland), Alexandria (NSW), Northmead (NSW), Altona North (Victoria), and Belmont (WA), coming online in June and July this year.
AmpCharge chargers will naturally be supplied with renewable energy – “or covered by green certificates,” says Ampol – and both solar panel and battery storage systems.
Chargers will go up to 150kW in power and will be able to charge at least two EVs at the same time.
The Ampol rollout is part of an agreement with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced in July last year, with ARENA providing partial funding through the federal Future Fuels Fund – billed last year as $7.05 million from a total $26.81m investment.
The new Ampol business comes hot on the heels of a similar move from BP, which last week signed a deal with Australian DC charger company Tritium to establish an Australian network of public chargers.
We’re moving to a time where the typical servo has a few EV chargers, then, plus some decent food and coffee inside to spend money on while you wait.
As well as using its national network of service stations, Ampol has plans to “service customers both at home and on the road at both forecourts and destinations”, the latter alluding to sites such as shopping centres.
This means that at-home branded charging infrastructure is expected to be developed under the AmpCharge banner, with Ampol adding it intends “a broader home energy offer”. Details are still to come on that.
Ampol Managing Director and CEO Matt Halliday called the announcement “an important step forward in the execution of Ampol’s future energy and mobility strategy”.
“I’m pleased to today unveil our full-service electric vehicle fast charging ecosystem, AmpCharge, leveraging our existing network, skills and infrastructure to provide a diverse and comprehensive charging network that can minimise range anxiety and support the uptake of BEVs in Australia,” he said.
“We’ve been keeping Australians moving for over 120 years. Today, as energy needs evolve, our vision is to become Australia’s leading distributer of energy, providing mobility solutions for any of the vehicles our customers drive, anywhere and anytime they need it.
“As we begin to evolve our national network, consumers will see AmpCharge in Ampol service stations, depots and terminals right across the country. For the first time, we’ll also be entering homes, workplaces and shopping centres as we seek to deliver simple and efficient charging solutions at convenient locations to keep people moving.”
MORE: BP planning local EV charger network, using Australia’s Tritium
MORE: Australian government co-funds rollout of 400 public EV charge points
