Doubling electric vehicle chargers in its car parks, trialling low-impact on-street charging and a comprehensive research project to help retrofit existing buildings with chargers are among the first actions in the City of Sydney’s new electric vehicle strategy.

The draft Electrification of Transport in the City Strategy and Action Plan, which passed unanimously for public exhibition by the City Council recently, outlines City plans to electrify transport fleets and lower the barriers to electric vehicle use in our local area.

Key actions arising from the new plan, include:

  • Accelerating the transition of the City’s own light and heavy vehicle fleet
  • Increasing the capacity of the City’s depots to handle more and bigger electric vehicles
  • Encouraging public rapid charging facilities in car parks and service stations
  • Increasing the capacity and number of electric chargers in City-controlled car parks
  • Working with Ausgrid to trial low-impact on-street charging in locations without off-street options
  • Updating planning controls to encourage and support charging capacity in new buildings
  • Conducting a comprehensive research project to understand the challenges and opportunities of retrofitting existing apartment buildings with chargers

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said reducing private vehicle dependence while supporting the electrification of vehicles would help lower transport emissions and reach the City’s net-zero targets.

“If we are to stop dangerous runaway climate change, we need to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible. Lowering transport emissions, which are currently around 20% of all our emissions, will be crucial to this task,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Reducing private vehicle dependence is the most effective way to cut emissions, so we remain focused on delivering our comprehensive bike network, supporting ambitious public transport projects and ensuring our city is a pleasant and accessible place to walk to, from and around.

“Not all trips can be completed on a bike or public transport so electrification of high-impact fleets such as delivery and service vehicles, as well as private vehicles, will help complete the journey to net zero transport.”

Under the new plan, the City will increase capacity in Goulburn Street and Kings Cross car parks to 18 chargers, with another two 22kWh chargers to be installed in Cope Street car park in Redfern and Wilson Street car park in Newtown. The City of Sydney is also working with Ausgrid to test an unobtrusive on-street electric vehicle charger on an existing power pole in Glebe to explore ways to support on-street charging access without burdening the public domain.

Modelling and technical analysis that underpins the plan shows around 20% of emissions in the City area come from transport, and the biggest barriers to using electric vehicles are affordability, availability and access to charging. The local area already has more than 100 publicly available charging points and research indicates most people will charge their vehicles in buildings, garages and depots. The City of Sydney will work with providers to get more chargers where they’re needed, predominantly in off-street car parks, service stations and some street locations, balancing the need to protect footpaths and public spaces.

As part of the strategy, the City of Sydney will use its planning controls to make sure all new developments are electric vehicle ready. Over the coming months, the City of Sydney will investigate the technical, governance and management challenges our strata communities face as they start to address increasing demand to retrofit apartment buildings with EV charging.

PHOTO CREDIT: City of Sydney, Chris Southwood