Australia's biggest fuel retailer is betting the future of driving will look a lot less like the gas pump.
Ampol's $225 million deal to buy Evie Networks raises a bigger question than a single company acquisition: Has the shift away from gas and diesel reached a point where even oil-linked businesses have to adapt?
That matters because charging access remains one of the biggest practical hurdles for would-be EV drivers — and if a major fuel seller is racing to add more than 1,000 charging bays, it suggests demand is no longer theoretical, according to PerthNow.
Here's what to know
If the purchase wins regulatory approval, Ampol would run about 1,425 charging bays across more than 400 sites after adding Evie Networks' 1,030-plus public bays to its existing network.
That would make it one of Australia's largest EV charging networks.
In the first six months of 2026, Australian motorists bought a record 103,716 battery-electric cars as gas and diesel prices kept climbing.
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Ampol chief executive Matt Halliday said usage across Ampol's charging business is already reflecting that demand.
"Utilization has increased year on year, with charging sessions increasing [116%] and energy supplied increasing [120%] in the first half of 2026," he revealed.
More background
Beyond adding chargers, the deal would give Ampol access to Evie's data on busy locations and charging demand, alongside a network with a far larger existing footprint than AmpCharge, which Ampol launched in April 2022 with a goal of reaching 120 sites.
Evie Charging chief executive Chris Mills said scale matters.
"Of the 500,000 (electric) cars on the road, 380,000 of them are registered in our app," he told the outlet.
"That really gives us strong insight as to where drivers are looking to get a charge and what they're looking to get when they come to our charge point."
What's being done?
Ampol says the acquisition is about meeting drivers where the market is headed.
Mills said many Evie locations were designed with room to grow, while Halliday cast the timing of the investment as a response to rising demand.
"For Ampol, EV charging is ultimately a question of disciplined investment at the right time," Halliday explained.
Where can I learn more?
Ampol's deal comes as EV sales rise and charging networks expand in Australia and overseas. These stories cover Australia's sales surge, major network rollouts, and the policy and infrastructure shaping EV use.
• Mazda says Australia's EV surge has been driven by subsidies, fleet orders, and new rules.
• In the U.S., General Motors is backing rural charging expansion to widen EV access.
• Norway shows how dense public chargers and policy can make EV driving routine.
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