Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure company, EVX has launched one of its Australian-made dual EVX Pole kerbside chargers in the Ballina Shire.
The new charger is open to the public at 44 Cherry Street Ballina in the Ballina CBD.
This type of EV charging infrastructure is quick to install and is proving critical to tackling bottlenecks at other charging facilities, particularly during holiday periods, said Ballina Shire Council Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader.
“Ballina Shire Council is thrilled to celebrate the installation of new electric vehicle charging stations on Cherry Street in Ballina,” she said.
“This fantastic collaboration with Essential Energy and EVX reflects our dedication to working hand-in-hand with the community and industry to seek innovative and sustainable solutions for our region.”
EVX CEO, Andrew Forster, said that while Ballina was a bustling town and holiday destination, EV charging infrastructure hadn’t yet met local demand – “particularly during key holiday periods where we are seeing queues at rapid charging stations along the main highways, up and down the coast”.
“The barriers to buying an EV are starting to disappear, but as EV numbers on our roads quickly rise, there’s a lot of work to do to ensure Australia’s charging infrastructure keeps pace, particularly in rural and regional Australia which have so far been lagging city and metro areas,” he said.
“When regional areas fall behind, this not only contributes to the range anxiety experienced by EV owners who travel longer distances, it also disincentivises those in regional areas to make the important switch to EVs.
“As the number of EVs on Australia’s roads continues to increase, the availability of charging opportunities needs to increase too. We are excited to be part of the solution to bring more EV charging to Ballina Shire,” Mr Forster said.
“Our role as a leader in the community is to inspire others to join us in this journey toward a greener, more sustainable future for all. We are not just meeting targets — we’re leading by example by supporting this partnership. This new EV charging station will help to grow the EV network in our region and support our community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Cadwallader.
“The new EV charger is located conveniently in the Ballina CBD and will encourage visitors to stop, charge their vehicles, and explore our town centre — supporting local businesses and contributing to the vibrancy of our community.”
The kerbside chargers are being delivered as part of an alliance with Councils, EVX and electricity networks which see chargers installed on utility pole infrastructure across Australia. The new charger in Ballina Shire is in addition to the growing number of EVX chargers across the NSW mid-north and north coast regions, including Byron Bay, Hawks Nest and Port Macquarie, as well as in Newcastle and across Sydney.
“Council is proud to lead the way in sustainability with our bold vision of achieving 100% renewable electricity usage and net-zero emissions as an organisation by 2030. Our Climate Change Policy also includes actions to progress climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience strategies for the community,” said Mayor Cadwallader.
Mr Forster said EVX’s kerbside chargers can be installed with ease and have a low impact on the local electricity grid infrastructure by utilising AC charging with smart charging capability. Their installation on existing power poles means the above ground charging points are easily added without the need for major civil works, he said.
“EVX developed the EVX Polecharger from the ground up to meet the challenges utility providers and local governments face in rolling out EV charging infrastructure sustainably while adhering to local electrical and planning regulations,” he said.
