Grants up to $8 million to support the installation of new public fast EV charging stations at automotive dealerships and EV repairer sites across Australia.
On this page you will find
What is the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream (DCGS)?
The Australian Government’s Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) Charger Grant Stream provides co-funding to support the preparation, construction and installation of new public fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at eligible automotive dealership and EV repairer premises across Australia.
The program forms part of the broader $60 million DRIVEN Program, which aims to accelerate Australia’s transition to electric vehicles by expanding public charging infrastructure while supporting automotive businesses as they transition to selling and servicing more EVs.
A total of $20 million has been allocated to the Charger Grant Stream over four years.
Projects must install public fast charging stations within eligible metropolitan, regional or journey enablement locations identified through the Australian Government’s EVCI Mapping Tool.
DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream level of support
Applicants may receive grants of up to $8 million.
Co-contribution is mandatory.
Funding support depends on the location of each charging station:
- Metropolitan locations: Up to 50% of eligible project costs.
- Regional and Journey Enablement locations: Up to 80% of eligible project costs.
Applicants are responsible for funding:
- the remaining eligible project costs
- all ineligible expenditure.
Only one grant may be awarded per eligible organisation (ABN).
DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream important dates
- Applications close: 28 August 2026 5:00 pm AEST
- Projects must be completed: 31 March 2029
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream objectives
The program aims to:
- Increase Australia’s public fast EV charging network.
- Deliver new public charging stations at automotive dealership and EV repairer premises.
- Encourage greater installation of charging infrastructure in regional Australia.
- Support dealerships and EV repairers as they transition to electric vehicles.
- Facilitate partnerships between dealerships, EV repairers and Charge Point Operators.
- Increase awareness and confidence in electric vehicle ownership.
- Support implementation of Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.
- Contribute towards Australia’s net zero emissions target by 2050.
- Improve access to reliable public charging infrastructure nationwide.
Projects and expenditure eligible for DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream support
Projects must:
- Deliver new public fast EV charging stations.
- Be located at eligible automotive dealership or EV repairer premises.
- Be located within eligible metropolitan, regional or journey enablement areas identified through the EVCI Mapping Tool.
- Meet the Minimum Operating Standards for government-funded charging stations.
- Include a minimum of 25 charging bays.
- Provide at least one CCS2 charging connector per charging bay.
- Be completed by 31 March 2029.
Eligible expenditure may include:
- Public fast EV charging equipment.
- Charging stations.
- Charging cables.
- Charging plugs and ports.
- Charging bays.
- Trenching.
- Bollards.
- Line marking.
- Signage.
- Electricity network connections.
- Required electricity network upgrades.
- Installation costs.
- On-site battery systems.
- Technical project labour.
- Direct labour costs.
- Labour on-costs (within guideline limits).
- Administrative overheads (within guideline limits).
- Contractor costs.
- Engineering services.
- Building modifications required for charger installation.
- Construction materials.
- Freight and establishment costs.
- Staff training directly related to the project.
- Project audit costs (where requested).
- Regulatory approvals obtained during the project.
- ICT hardware and software directly required for project delivery.
Ineligible expenditure
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- Activities outside the approved project period.
- Costs already funded by another government program.
- In-kind contributions.
- Domestic or international travel.
- Interest or finance costs.
- Loan repayments.
- Office furniture.
- Office equipment.
- Motor vehicles.
- Construction vehicles.
- Computers, printers or photocopiers not directly required for the project.
- ICT hardware or software unrelated to the project.
- General staff training.
- Insurance.
- Recruitment costs.
- Contract negotiation costs.
- Land purchase or leasing.
- Plant depreciation.
- Renewable energy generation equipment.
- CHAdeMO charging connectors.
- Site preparation unrelated to charger installation.
- Opportunity costs.
- Intellectual property protection costs.
- Government regulatory fees.
- Expenditure incurred before or after the approved project period.
Other DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream support
Applicants must:
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an account with an Australian financial institution.
- Be incorporated in Australia.
Applicants may partner with other eligible organisations, however one lead applicant must submit the application.
The following are not eligible:
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entities.
- Regional Development Australia Committees.
- Employers with 100 or more employees that have not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.
- Organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join.
DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream assessment criteria
Applications are assessed against four weighted assessment criteria.
Applicants must score at least 50% against every assessment criterion to be considered for funding. Applications are also assessed for overall value for money and compared against competing applications.
Assessment Criterion 1 – Organisational capability and capacity to deliver the project (20%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Experience delivering infrastructure or capital works projects.
- Experience planning and designing infrastructure projects.
- Experience installing charging infrastructure or similar engineering works.
- Experience managing electricity distribution grid connection approvals.
- Experience managing project sites and contractors.
- Strong financial management capability.
- Effective project governance and risk management processes.
- Experience coordinating projects across multiple locations, where applicable.
- Experience operating and maintaining EV charging infrastructure or similar assets.
- Access to suitably qualified project managers, engineers, construction personnel and technical specialists.
- Capacity to successfully deliver the project within the required timeframe.
Assessment Criterion 2 – Charging station design and project delivery (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A well-designed charging station proposal for every site.
- Details of every proposed charging station location.
- Strong collaboration with dealership or EV repairer site hosts.
- Clear benefits provided to participating dealerships or repairers.
- Charging station designs that comply with the Government’s Minimum Operating Standards.
- Appropriate customer amenities where available.
- Practical site layouts including parking arrangements and weather protection where relevant.
- Evidence that electricity network connection enquiries have commenced.
- A realistic construction and implementation schedule.
- A practical approach to managing construction activities.
- Plans for ongoing operation and maintenance.
- Customer support arrangements.
- A realistic and well-managed project budget.
- Appropriate contingency allowances.
- Comprehensive project risk assessment.
- Risk mitigation strategies.
- A detailed breakdown of grant funding requested across each financial year.
- Details of subcontractors and their role in delivering the project.
Assessment Criterion 3 – Proposed charging station locations (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong geographic coverage across metropolitan, regional and journey enablement areas.
- How the project expands Australia’s public fast charging network.
- A focus on improving charging availability in regional and journey enablement locations.
- How the project improves access for EV users.
- Benefits for surrounding communities and local businesses.
- Evidence that proposed locations address public charging demand.
- Suitable planning zones and site characteristics.
- A clear rationale for selecting each site.
- Advantages of each proposed location compared with alternatives.
- Long-term certainty to occupy and operate each site for at least five years.
- Letters of support, ownership documentation or tenure agreements where applicable.
Note: Applications including regional and journey enablement sites, or a mix of location types, will generally be considered more favourably.
Assessment Criterion 4 – Cost and value for money (20%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong value for money.
- Appropriate cost per kilowatt of charging capacity.
- Appropriate charging capacity across all proposed sites.
- A justified number of charging bays.
- Appropriate grant funding relative to total project value.
- Strong return on investment.
- Realistic revenue projections.
- Appropriate maintenance budgeting.
- Long-term operational sustainability.
- Efficient customer support arrangements.
How do I get the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream support?
To maximise your chances of success, applicants should demonstrate:
- A project that directly supports the objectives of the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream.
- Installation of public fast EV charging stations at eligible dealership or EV repairer sites.
- Strong organisational capability and experience delivering similar infrastructure projects.
- A realistic and well-planned delivery schedule.
- Compliance with the Government’s Minimum Operating Standards.
- Strong partnerships with dealerships, EV repairers and other project partners.
- Secure access to proposed project sites.
- Evidence of electricity network planning and connection readiness.
- A robust project budget with appropriate contingencies.
- Strong financial capacity to provide the required co-contribution.
- Comprehensive project risk management.
- Clear community, industry and network benefits.
- Strong value for money.
- High-quality supporting documentation.
- Projects that improve charging access in regional and journey enablement areas where possible.
Information to prepare for the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream support
Applicants should prepare:
- Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Project plan.
- Detailed project budget.
- Supplier quotations where available.
- Site maps and charging station designs.
- Evidence of site ownership or tenure.
- Letters of support from site hosts and project partners.
- Electricity network connection information.
- Risk management plan.
- Project delivery schedule.
- Financial information.
- Details of subcontractors.
- Evidence supporting previous project experience.
- Required approvals or evidence they are being obtained.
Applying for the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream support
Applications must be submitted online through the Australian Government Business Grants Hub.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream resources
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