Grants to build public fast EV charging stations at dealerships and EV repairers

The department will update FAQs regularly to clarify program requirements and to ensure all applicants have the same information.

What value of grants are available and when do projects need to be completed?

Grants of up to $8,000,000 per application are available, with projects to be completed by 31 March 2029.

Are only automotive dealers and EV repairers eligible to apply?

No. An applicant can be outside the automotive sector provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria as described in section 4 of the grant opportunity guidelines (the guidelines).

Applicants could include:

• dealership groups
• vehicle manufacturers
• charge point operators
• business or community groups.

Is the minimum of 25 charging bays per site or per application?

The minimum of 25 charging bays applies to your whole application which may include multiple proposed sites.

Where do the public charging units need to be installed?

All public EV charging units need to be installed at a dealership or EV repairer premises. For further details see section 5.2 of the guidelines.

The merit of your application will partly be determined by the proposed site’s(s’) proximity to the relevant areas as defined by, and identified on the EVCI Mapping Tool (metro, regional and Journey Enablement zones). For further details, see section 3.1 of the guidelines.

Are there restrictions on joint or consortia applications?

Organisations may partner together to deliver a project, provided an eligible lead organisation is appointed to submit the application and enter into grant agreement negotiations. For further details, see section 7.2 of the guidelines.

Will there be future funding rounds like the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream?

No. Only one funding round will be available for the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream with the portal closing for applications 5pm AEST, Friday 28 August 2026.

What are the technical charging station requirements?

The minimum technical requirements can be found in Appendix C of the guidelines.

Can the co-funding go towards covering the cost of on-site batteries or renewable energy generation sources?

On-site batteries are considered eligible expenditure if installed for the purpose of directly supporting the charging infrastructure. However, renewable energy generation equipment is not. For further details on eligible expenditure, see section 5.3 of the guidelines.

Do site hosts need to register their interest for their sites to be included in an application?

No. Registration of a site host’s interest in hosting public EV fast charging stations is not mandatory and will not impact site eligibility.

What are the charging station uptime requirements?

Once commissioned, each charging plug should have at least 98% annual uptime, calculated per the Minimum operating standards for government-supported public electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Once commissioned, uptime data for all charging units must provided through the Charge@Large platform.