Curbside Sparks: How NSW Is Charging Ahead on EVs

NSW’s kerbside charging rollout blends public planning and private tech to electrify everyday streets

8 Oct 2025

New South Wales is accelerating the rollout of electric vehicle chargers through a network of partnerships between technology firms, utilities and local councils, marking one of Australia’s most ambitious efforts to expand public charging access.

The state government is funding the installation of more than 500 kerbside chargers across 130 suburbs in a programme designed to make on-street charging a normal part of urban life. The initiative integrates chargers into existing streetlight and power pole infrastructure, allowing faster and cheaper deployment than traditional standalone sites.

Companies including Connected Kerb, EVX and Plus ES are leading implementation, using pole-mounted and low-profile units that blend into residential streets. Their approach reflects a shift away from highway fast-charging hubs toward neighbourhood-based convenience.

“This is about more than adding chargers,” said one participant in the state’s pilot programme. “It’s about rethinking how energy, mobility and public infrastructure work together.” The partnerships aim to manage grid demand while supporting broader electrification goals by embedding chargers within existing power networks.

While Canberra’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy provides a national policy framework, much of the current progress is being driven by state-level action. NSW’s push mirrors a global trend of utilities expanding into mobility services as transport and energy systems converge.

Challenges include navigating council planning rules and maintaining consistency across dispersed charging points. But with new investment flowing and cooperation between sectors deepening, industry figures say NSW is establishing a scalable model for urban charging.

As installations move from pilot phase to wider rollout, the state’s kerbside programme is setting a benchmark for how Australian cities could integrate everyday infrastructure into the country’s transition to electric mobility.