Having no driveway may soon become less of an obstacle for electric vehicle drivers in Australia.
A new proposal suggests that street parking with chargers on existing power poles could offer faster charging, with initial installations targeted for early 2027.
Here's what to know
Australian company EVX is developing the Pole Charger Rapid, a pole-mounted DC charger rated at 40–50 kilowatts, content creator Ben Alexxander (@benalexxander) explained in a YouTube video. EVX already offers pole-mounted AC chargers.
Engineering work, certification, and manufacturing arrangements remain unfinished ahead of the first deployments planned for January through March 2027. EVX plans to deploy the chargers in regional communities, as well as on streets and in town centers, Alexxander noted.
EVX has yet to publish where the chargers will go, how they will be offered commercially, or their full technical specifications.
A vehicle's ability to accept power remains a constraint when using a DC charger. But Alexxander clarified that because DC equipment converts electricity outside the vehicle, it bypasses the charging limit imposed by the car's onboard AC equipment. AC charging instead depends on that onboard equipment to convert electricity for the battery.
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More background
At 50 kilowatts, a half-hour charging session would deliver about 25 kilowatt-hours before charging losses, Alexxander explained.
A shopping trip or another routine stop could provide time to recharge, even though these chargers would be slower than many highway fast chargers. Actual performance will depend on the car's charging restrictions, battery temperature, and starting charge level.
Access to parking, however, matters as much as charging speed. For one YouTube commenter, a five-day visit to Newcastle illustrated the problem. Gas-powered cars occupied the spaces beside existing pole chargers.
"I don't begrudge the car owners because there was nowhere else to park and the posts weren't designated charging bays," the commenter explained.
There was also a healthy debate in the comments over whether the higher charging speed was necessary or whether more "slow" chargers would be better for drivers who might park overnight.
What's being done?
Electricity networks would identify suitable existing poles during the first half of 2027, under federal guidance Alexxander described in the video. That guidance concerns a separate government initiative covering both curbside charging and gaps in regional charging access.
That initiative should not be taken as a confirmed installation timetable for every community or as an order for EVX equipment. The program can't proceed until a decision on changing electricity rules is made.
Pedestrians, wheelchair users, and people pushing strollers must have room to pass the chargers and their cables, Alexxander explained. EVX's proposed equipment locations must also pair adequate electrical connections with nearby, accessible parking.
Without EVX's commercial terms, drivers cannot yet fully assess the cost trade-off. Pricing remains unresolved, and a public charger close to home would not necessarily match a cheap household electricity tariff.
"Its purpose is to bring useful charging power into places where people already spend time," Alexxander explained.
Where can I learn more?
Australia's proposed pole chargers could make charging more convenient for drivers without a driveway. Charging funding and network expansion in Australia, along with curbside and lamppost installations, are doing the same globally
• In Australia, curbside EV charger funding could add about $1 annually to power bills.
• A Massachusetts city is adding 22 curbside EV chargers, helping drivers without garages.
• New York is getting 700 curbside EV chargers to expand charging beyond private driveways.
• Ampol is acquiring 1,030 EV charging bays in Australia for $225 million.
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