Seven new charging stations for battery-powered and hybrid cars are being trialled for the next 12 months on the Northern Beaches. However, instead of a large street-side generator, like the existing plug-in hubs for EVs (electric vehicles), the new chargers are grey boxes resembling parking meters and they’re attached to the timber utility poles that carry overhead powerlines.
The seven trial charging boxes have been installed across the Beaches from Manly in the south and Terrey Hills and Newport in the north. The generators are managed by Exploren, which specialises in software for administering EV charging stations. Users can monitor their availability via a phone app, which also records battery top-up times and service costs.
So is the electricity free?
No, users are charged for the power they use. Project leaders Intellihub told Manly Observer the sites would more often be used as ‘top ups’ (eg charge during a swim at the beach), a couple of hours charging to cover about 200km at 50 cents a kilowatt hour. This could mean about $10-$15. A full charge would be closer to about $40.
The new additions bring the current number of EV charging stations in the Northern Beaches region to around 40 public plug-in sites (see locations listed below).
Northern Beaches Council announced they were participating in the trial after considering a surge in electric-powered vehicle usage.
A Council spokesperson revealed, “more than 1,300 EVs have been registered across the Northern Beaches over the past 12-months. There are now more than 3,100 EVs registered across the local government area.”
In a statement released this month Council said: “As part of an Australian-first trial, local street-side power poles have been turned into charging stations for electric vehicles. The project is being led by energy technology business Intellihub, supported by Northern Beaches Council, and with funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).”
ARENA is the Australian Government-run bureau that supports and sponsors the implementation of renewable energy schemes. They also facilitate programs that help reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, to meet international obligations.
If the 12-month trial is deemed successful, EV power chargers attached to electricity poles will likely be implemented nationwide.
Titled the Intellihub Electric Vehicle Streetside Charging Project and overseen on the Northern Beaches by the Local Traffic Committee, further details of the trial can be seen on Council’s website (link here).
Council’s webpage also reveals, “We are one of eight local Councils taking part in the Intellihub EV Streetside Charging Project, which will make EV charging stations more accessible for those who live in apartments, townhouses or units with no on-site EV charging facilities….
“We have funding for seven (7) of the 22kW EV chargers, and asked you to nominate which of the 12 previously-identified sites you think should be the priority. We received 429 responses – thank you to all who provided feedback.”
The seven sites chose for the 12-month trial scheme are:
Manly: 25 Ashburner Street
Manly: 4 West Promenade
Collaroy: 9 Anzac Avenue
Frenchs Forest: Blackbutts Road (opposite Malbara Crescent)
Terrey Hills: 12 Yulong Avenue
Allambie Heights: 118 Allambie Road
Newport: Dearin Reserve (opposite 13 Kalinya Street)
Results of the Northern Beaches trial will be reported to the Local Traffic Committee in early 2025.
Mayor Sue Heins welcomed the new chargers, saying, “The Northern Beaches is one of the fastest growing areas for EV ownership and we are working with industry partners to make sure there are enough local charging stations to keep pace with demand.
“This wonderful initiative is making EV charging more accessible for people living in apartments, townhouses, or units with no onsite EV charging options.”
She added, “We expect it will encourage more people to make the switch from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to electric. We continue to encourage all our residents to consider making the switch. Together, we can reach our target of a 30% reduction in vehicle emissions by 2038.”
Intellihub CEO Wes Ballantine said “A typical EV can get more than 200km of driving from a two-hour charge at any of these sites. The new chargers are displayed on all public EV charging maps, so every EV driver, whether they live here or are just visiting, will know they can more easily charge their EV on the Northern Beaches.”
Where to charge electric vehicles on the Northern Beaches
In April 2023, three new Jolt charging stations opened in Dee Why, Forestville and Mona Vale (as reported here by Manly Observer), which complemented an estimated nine public stations provided by Jolt and other EV power suppliers in the region, bringing the total up to 12.
Mona Vale was then the most northerly charging station along the beaches, but a year later more have been added. The furthest north on the peninsula are now at Palm Beach and Church Point.
As of 1 June 2024, this is the current list of public EV charging points on the Northern Beaches (service providers in italics in brackets):
Allambie Heights (118 Allambie Rd – Exploren); Balgowlah (BP Service Station, 485 Sydney Rd – BP Pulse); Balgowlah (Stockland Shopping Centre, carpark level P3, 197 Condamine St – Tesla); Balgowlah (Stockland Shopping Centre, carpark, 197 Condamine St – Chargefox); Belrose (HomeCo, 4-6 Niangala Cl – Evie); Brookvale (Westfield Warringah Mall 127 Old Pittwater Rd – Tesla); Brookvale (Col Crawford BMW, 485 Pittwater Rd); Brookvale (4 Pines Brewing, 13 Winbourne Rd – Chargefox); Brookvale (87 Winbourne Rd – Jolt); Brookvale (230 Harbord Rd – Alchemy Charge); Church Point (The Quays Marina, 1856 Pittwater Rd – Seavolt); Collaroy: (9 Anzac Avenue – Exploren); Dee Why (Dee Why Marketplace, 4-16 Oaks Ave – Jolt); Dee Why (Dee Why Marketplace, 27 Oaks Ave – Evie); Dee Why (Dee Why Marketplace, 33 Oaks Ave); Dee Why (DY PCYC car park, 40 Kingsway); Dee Why (DY PCYC car park, 40 Kingsway – ChargePoint); Dee Why (DY PCYC car park, 40 Kingsway – Exploren); Dee Why (DY PCYC car park, 40 Kingsway – Tesla); Forestville (10 Darley St – Jolt); Frenchs Forest (Lionel Watts Reserve, Blackbutts Road – Exploren); Frenchs Forest (Allambie Grove Business Park, 25 Frenchs Forest Rd – Evie); Frenchs Forest (KFC, 20 Frenchs Forest Rd – EVBox); Freshwater (30 Dowling St – Jolt); Freshwater (Harbord Diggers, 88 Evans St – EVUp); Manly (25 Ashburner St – Exploren); Manly (Manly Pacific Hotel, 55 North Steyne – Tesla HOTEL GUESTS ONLY); Manly (4 West Promenade – Exploren); Manly Vale (Dan Murphys, 279 Condamine St – Supercharger); Mona Vale (Baldwin Living, 1 Seabeach Ave – Chargefox); Mona Vale (2 Bungan St – Jolt); Mona Vale (Mona Vale Library car park, 1 Park St – Jolt); Mona Vale (Pittwater RSL, 80 Mona Vale Rd); Narrabeen (Ampol Service Stn, 1509 Pittwater Rd – AmpCharge); Narrabeen (car park, 9 Lagoon St – Jolt); Narrabeen (car park, 16 Ocean St – Jolt); Narrabeen (Sands Hotel, 1260 Pittwater Rd – HOTEL GUESTS ONLY); Newport (Dearin Reserve, opposite 13 Kalinya Street – Exploren); Palm Beach (Barrenjoey House carpark – Jolt); Terrey Hills (Hills Flower Market, 287 Mona Vale Rd – Tesla); Terrey Hills (Community Centre, 12 Yulong Avenue – Exploren); Warriewood (Blackmore, 20 Jubilee Ave); Warriewood (Warriewood Square, 12 Jackson’s Rd – Chargefox).
[NOTE: Ampol Narrabeen and Dan Murphy’s Manly Vale haven’t yet started operation]
Several hotels also provide EV recharging facilities for staying guests.
Online maps of EV charging points across Australasia
Electric Vehicle Council: https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/about-ev/charger-map/
Transport for NSW: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/electric-vehicles
PlugShare: https://www.plugshare.com/location/ PlugShare is probably the most detailed and user-friendly
Interesting in EVs and Net Zero? Council is hosting a Net Zero Expo this Sunday from 10am at Tramshed Narrabeen.
