Charge Up Workplace Grants

Applicants who are one of the following types of organisations are eligible to apply for the grant:

• All not-for-profits registered with the Australian Charities and not-for-profits commission (ACNC).
• All local government authorities established under the Local Government Act 1995.
• All small to medium enterprises (SME) as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, being either a small business employing less than 20 people, or a medium business employing between 20 and 199 people. This includes a franchisee of a large business if the franchisee is a small or medium business.
  1. Landowners: SMEs that wish to install charger(s) at a business premise they own, but do not occupy, are eligible for funding, provided a substantial proportion of occupants are eligible organisations with access to the charger(s).
  2. Shared car parks: if EV charger(s) are proposed to be installed at a site with a shared carpark, a substantial proportion of site occupants must be eligible organisations.
  3. Charge point operators: SMEs that wish to install charger(s) at a site as a charge point operator are eligible for funding if installation of the charger(s) is not commercially viable without grant funding, and a substantial proportion of site occupants are eligible organisations with access to charger(s).

Applicants must install the EV chargers at a location within Western Australia.

Applicants must make it more attractive for drivers to charge during the day (9am to 5pm) and/or overnight (9pm to 9am), compared to during the evening (5pm to 9pm). Ways to do this include:

• requiring users to pay a higher cents per kilowatt hour rate during the evening (5pm to 9pm);
• reducing the rate of charge during the evening (5pm to 9pm); or
• turning off or preventing access to the charger during the evening (5pm to 9pm).

The following are not eligible:

• Home-based businesses.
• Entities owned by a State or Federal Government.
• Large businesses, e.g. banks and telecommunication companies (applicants are required to declare that they are not part of a corporate group with aggregate turnover in excess of $250 million).
• Political organisations and unions.
• Organisations seeking grant funding on behalf of another organisation. This includes:
  1. organisations seeking grant funding as an auspicor for another organisation;
  2. strata and property management companies seeking grant funding on behalf of an owner or tenant in a strata property; and
  3. property developers or builders for sites under development.

See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for CUWG support.

The assessment will also consider whether the number and size (kW) of charger(s) requested is appropriate to support the proposed use case.

Relevant factors include, but are not limited to:

• Business/operational needs which require charging vehicles at a particular capacity (kW).
• The number of existing or planned EVs that will use the charger(s).
• The expected level of utilisation of the charger(s).

The following general rules apply:

• AC chargers (up to 22kW) are supported for charging employee vehicles.
• AC and smaller DC chargers (up to 50kW) are supported for destination charging.
• Larger DC chargers (50kW or greater) are supported for fleet and public charging purposes only.

The following matters may also be considered as part of the assessment:

• Ensuring a reasonable split of grant funding between metropolitan and regional/remote areas.
• Ensuring a reasonable split of grant funding between the different types of eligible organisations.
• Alignment of the project with other WA Government policies.
• The extent to which the project is in the public interest.

The proportionality of network costs will also be considered as part of the assessment. Applications where the network costs are disproportionately high compared to the cost of the chargers being installed may be rejected. Generally, network costs should not exceed 50% of the project costs. Exceptions can be made if the site is in an area with higher than usual network costs.

All applications from charge point operators will be assessed by the Grants Program Steering Committee. These applicants will need to demonstrate to the Steering Committee that the installation of charger(s) is not commercially viable without grant funding. A reduced funding amount may be provided if less than 50% co-funding is required to make the installation commercially viable.

Applications seeking grant funding in excess of $75,000 will be subject to a two-stage assessment process. This will comprise an initial assessment by DMIRS, followed by a final assessment by a committee (for example, the Grants Program Steering Committee).

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
• Provide complete information requirements

Be prepared to share the following information:

• Contact details of a person within the organisation authorised to make the funding request (Name and Position, Address, Phone Number, Email Address).
• Organisation name.
• Organisation type (small or medium enterprise, local government, or not-for-profit).
• ABN – please provide an explanation if the ABN and the organisation name are different.
• Primary organisation address (e.g. head office).
• Indicate whether the organisation has outstanding debts to Government and/or if it is subject to serious investigation and/or prosecution action.

Be prepared to share the following information for each site (up to five sites)

• Site address and a name for the site.
• Indicate whether the site is located in the Greater Perth area or Regional WA. To help determine whether installation funding is capped at the metro or regional amount for the site.
• For sites that are leased, confirmation that your landlord consents to installation of the charger(s). The application form will require the applicant to declare that they have obtained appropriate approvals from their landlord.
• Copies of detailed quote(s) for each site for:
  1. approved EV Charger/s (hardware);
  2. approved software from an approved supplier;
  3. installation costs, including a two-year maintenance agreement (for public chargers only); and
  4. network costs (if required).
• The total costs, as shown on your quote(s), for hardware, software and installation, including, for public chargers, maintenance.
• The number of EV chargers already installed at the site (if any).
• Whether the site uses solar energy or GreenPower.
• Who will use the EV Charger(s) Whether the charger(s) will be available for use by the general public, visitors, employees and/or fleet vehicles.
• The operating hours of the site.
• Explanation of how the applicant will make it more attractive for drivers to charge during the day (9am to 5pm) and/or overnight (9pm to 9am), compared to during the evening (5pm to 9pm).
• For public chargers, details of the two-year (minimum) maintenance agreement with the hardware provider.
• Commitment to maintain the charger in place for a period of at least five years.
• A written description about proposed charger use at the site.
• Whether the EV charger will be listed online to be found by members of the general public.

Applicants must obtain quotes for supply and installation of the chargers before submitting an application. This includes obtaining quotes for a two-year software subscription and two-year maintenance plan (for public chargers only).

The Commercial Quote Requirements in the guidelines sets out the information that must be provided in all quotes.

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

Applications must be submitted online via the SmartyGrants portal.

Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.