Up to $700,000 to support charge point operators delivering new public fast charging stations in NSW remote zones, boosting coverage, reliability, accessibility, and renewable-powered operations.
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What is the Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants (EVFCG) program?
The NSW Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants (Round 4) program provides co-funding to help Charge Point Operators (CPOs) build, own and operate new public DC fast charging stations across NSW. The focus is on addressing charging “blackspots” and expanding reliable, accessible fast-charging coverage across metropolitan, regional and remote locations.
This is a competitive grant program and proposals are assessed on merit against published criteria and program requirements.
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants level of support
Minimum funding available
- No minimum grant amount is stated in the Round 4 guidelines (funding is determined by eligible project costs and the co-funding caps by stream).
Maximum funding available
Per charging station (caps, ex GST), the NSW co-funding maximum is:
- Metropolitan: up to $300,000 per station (up to 40%)
- Regional: up to $550,000 per station (up to 50%)
- Remote: up to $700,000 per station (up to 90%)
In addition (and not counted toward the station caps), the program also provides:
- $20,000 per station if at least one pull-through bay is provided
- $10,000 per additional bay beyond the stream minimum, capped at 6 bays
- For remote stations only: up to $90,000 one-off support for eligible operating costs (see “Eligible Projects” below)
Co-contribution (required)
Your minimum private co-contribution depends on the stream (location type):
- Metropolitan: at least 60% privately funded (NSW contribution up to 40%)
- Regional: at least 50% privately funded (NSW contribution up to 50%)
- Remote: at least 10% privately funded (NSW contribution up to 90%)
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants important dates
- Applications close: 24 April 2026
- Assessment period: April – July 2026
- Funding agreements executed: September 2026
- Project delivery deadline: by September 2028
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants objectives
The program’s objectives include:
- Supporting the rollout of public DC fast charging infrastructure to improve EV charging coverage in NSW.
- Addressing charging gaps (“blackspots”) across metropolitan, regional and remote areas.
- Funding CPOs to deliver stations that are reliable, accessible, user-friendly, and operationally supported.
Projects eligible for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants support
What the grant will support
Funding is for new build DC fast charging stations only (not upgrading existing stations). Stations must be located in an eligible zone (or just outside, with justification), and meet minimum technical and operational requirements.
Typical eligible expenditure includes (examples):
- Fast charger hardware and electrical components
- Civil and electrical works (including submetering)
- Supply authority/grid connection fees and related enabling works
- Internet and data cabling
- Signage, line marking and site works required for commissioning
- On-site battery storage and renewable generation equipment (where proposed)
- Labour directly required to deliver the station works
- Certain admin costs directly related to delivery (e.g., legal/accounting/travel)
Ineligible expenditure (must not be budgeted to the grant)
- Purchase of land
- Grant writing / preparing the application
- Feasibility studies or business cases
- Works undertaken before the funding agreement is signed (unless prior written approval)
- Works undertaken after the completion date
- Most general operating costs (OPEX) such as: electricity costs, demand charges, subscriptions, ongoing maintenance, internet/data, taxes (noting the separate remote OPEX support below)
- Interest on loans
- Membership fees/donations
- Opportunity costs
- Foreign exchange costs
Remote-only operating cost support (special condition)
Remote stream projects may be eligible for up to $90,000 one-off support for certain operating costs, including:
- Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance (including vandalism damage)
- Site leasing/licensing fees (capped at $5,000 per year)
- Non-energy operating costs (e.g., software/networking fees)
Not eligible for remote OPEX support: electricity costs and demand charges.
Other Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants support
To be eligible, applicants must meet the organisational requirements including:
- Incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (or be a state-owned corporation/subsidiary)
- Have an ABN
- Hold insurance (including $20m public liability and workers compensation)
- Provide an Accountant Declaration confirming financial capacity
Metro application rule (important!)
If you propose metropolitan stations, you must also propose at least one regional or remote station for every metropolitan station. The application system will not allow submissions that don’t meet this ratio.
Minimum technical requirements (per station)
Stations must meet (at minimum) the following by stream:
Metropolitan
- 2 × DC chargers at 240kW (+/-20%) each
- Minimum 4 bays (including ≥1 accessible)
- Minimum 400 kVA connection
Regional
- 2 × DC chargers at 175kW (+/-20%) each
- Minimum 3 bays (including ≥1 accessible)
- Minimum 276 kVA connection
Remote
- 2 × DC chargers at 150kW (+/-20%) each
- Minimum 3 bays (including ≥1 accessible)
- Minimum 276 kVA connection
Additional required features:
- CCS Type 2 connectors (CHAdeMO optional with justification)
- Evidence of an initial grid connection inquiry with the local DNSP
- Landowner letter of support per site (unless the applicant owns the land)
- Public access at least 12 hours/day, 7 days/week
- No conditional fees (e.g. must not require paid parking to charge)
- Card payment required, no app/membership requirement, and must be possible without mobile/internet signal
- Interoperability capability (OCPP 2.0.1 capable)
- NSW Government co-funding acknowledgement (branding)
Minimum operating requirements
Applicants must be able to meet operational obligations such as::
- Use 100% renewable energy to cover electricity usage of funded stations in perpetuity
- Provide 24/7 customer support (including accessibility for people with disability)
- Meet uptime requirements: 98% annually per plug for at least 50% of plugs on-site
- Provide performance/usage reporting via “Charge at Large”
Delivery timeframe
- Stations must be installed and operational within 24 months of the funding agreement being executed (Milestone 2).
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants assessment criteria
Applications are assessed competitively against the program’s merit criteria and requirements. The guidelines do not provide published weightings/percentages, so applicants should treat all criteria areas as important and respond comprehensively.
Based on the guideline descriptions, the assessment considers (at minimum):
1) Cost and value for money
Applicants should clearly demonstrate:
- A credible and well-evidenced project budget and cost assumptions
- Strong value per dollar (e.g. efficient $/kW outcomes aligned to the required power levels)
- The commercial rationale: revenue approach, pricing approach, and utilisation assumptions
- The extent to which grant funding is truly required (i.e. proportional and justified rather than “nice to have”)
- A clear explanation of why station configuration (charger size, number of bays) is appropriate for expected demand and the location’s role in the network
2) User experience and site suitability
Applicants should show:
- Why each site is the right location to address a charging gap (including zone alignment and any supporting evidence)
- Readiness and feasibility: land access, landowner support, planning considerations, and safe layouts
- Accessibility and inclusivity: accessible bay requirements, usability for people with disability, clear signage/wayfinding
- Practical usability: amenities, lighting, security, traffic flow, and (if relevant) pull-through vehicle access and layout drawings
3) Applicant capability and deliverability
Applicants should provide:
- A robust delivery plan and schedule with milestones
- Evidence of capability to build and operate DC fast charging infrastructure (track record, team experience, delivery partners)
- Financial strength and resilience (including the required accountant declaration)
- A clear governance approach (risk management, procurement, quality assurance, commissioning approach)
4) Grid connection readiness and network contribution
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Progress toward connection: initial DNSP engagement evidence for each station and a credible pathway to approvals
- How the project supports reliable operation (e.g. appropriate connection sizing and commissioning)
- Where relevant, how the site may reduce network impacts (e.g. battery storage, on-site renewables)
- Innovation and operational features that improve customer outcomes and network performance (e.g. charging management, pricing approaches like time-of-use)
How do I get the Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
To maximise the likelihood of success, applicants should clearly demonstrate they can:
- Meet the co-contribution requirements for the relevant stream and fund their share of the project costs
- Deliver only new-build sites in eligible zones (or justify any “just outside zone” placements)
- Comply with minimum technical specifications (power levels, number of chargers/bays, accessible bay requirements, connection sizing)
- Secure site access and permissions, including landowner support (or ownership evidence)
- Progress grid connection with documented early DNSP engagement per site
- Provide an accessible and user-friendly experience, including card payment without requiring apps/membership and thoughtful site layout
- Operate reliably long-term, including 24/7 customer support and meeting uptime requirements
- Source 100% renewable energy in perpetuity for station electricity usage
- Offer clear value for money, with a justified budget and credible utilisation/commercial assumptions
- Show a realistic delivery plan, including commissioning readiness and reporting capability (e.g. Charge at Large reporting)
Information to prepare for the Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants application
Applicants should prepare (at minimum):
- Evidence of incorporation and ABN details
- Proof of required insurances (incl. $20m public liability)
- Accountant declaration (financial capacity)
- For each proposed station:
- DNSP initial connection inquiry evidence
- Landowner letter of support (unless land owned)
- Site layout concept (including accessible bay and any pull-through design)
- A detailed project budget and funding model (incl. private co-funding confirmation)
- Operations plan addressing uptime, 24/7 support, payment approach, OCPP capability, and reporting
- Renewable energy strategy demonstrating 100% renewable electricity “in perpetuity”
Applying for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants
Applications must be submitted online through the SmartyGrants system.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Grants resources
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