Western Power is providing critical grid infrastructure to support the build of Australia's longest electric vehicle (EV) network - the WA EV Network, by connecting 44 of the total 98 EV charging stations.
The infrastructure includes underground cables and high voltage transformers that will connect EV charging stations to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
Western Power Executive Manager of Asset Operations Zane Christmas said EV connection was part of the business’s drive to support community and industry decarbonisation goals.
“We’re connecting the Synergy installed charging stations as part of the WA EV Network with seven of the 22 dual charging sites successfully connected and the remaining connections expected to be completed by early 2024.
“Out of the 22 dual charging sites, 21 are located in regional areas of the network, paving the way for the creation of a wide network of EV infrastructure that is critical to WA’s energy transition, supporting tourism and electrification across the state.”
The Department of Transport’s Western Australian Electric Vehicle Analysis Summary released in June showed a continuing upward trend in EV registrations in WA with a total of 8,622 EVs registered at the end of March, an increase of 1,560 from the previous quarter.
“As the uptake of electric vehicles in WA continues to grow so will demand for fast electric vehicle chargers,” Mr Christmas said.
“Most of the charging stations we are connecting as part of this project are dual-port fast chargers which will enable two vehicles to charge at the same time.
“These charging stations - in conjunction with Horizon Power’s EV charging stations outside of the SWIS - will form Australia’s longest EV charging network.
“This work demonstrates Western Power's commitment to enabling electrification of homes and businesses, to support WA's drive towards decarbonisation and achieving net zero.”
The WA EV Network - a joint initiative between Synergy, Horizon Power and the State Government - is set to be fully operational in 2024. Once complete the entire network will give EV drivers access to 98 charging stations across 49 locations, from Eucla at the South Australian border to Kununurra in the far north of Western Australia.
The initiative is part of the State Government's Electric Vehicle Action Plan and aims to boost EV uptake in WA to help reach the State Government's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.