Canberra’s Largest Mixed-Use Electric Vehicle Charger Opens
The Canberra suburb of Turner is now home to the city’s largest ‘mixed-use’ electric vehicle (EV) charger, provided by energy retailer ActewAGL. This new charging station caters to the three main types of charge ports found in Australian electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
The charger features three CCS2 DC fast-charge plugs, one CHAdeMo DC fast-charge plug, and four Type 2 AC ‘slow charge’ outlets. It supports up to 75kW CCS2 and 62.5kW CHAdeMo DC charging for compatible vehicles, or up to 22kW AC via its Type 2 outlets. ActewAGL claims this configuration allows it to recharge any of the ACT’s 11,000 electric vehicles.
Located at 34 Watson Street, near Haig Park, the charger was strategically placed due to its proximity to the Canberra CBD, Australian National University, Braddon, and the Elouera St light rail stop. The multi-speed charger system is designed to reduce the pressure on drivers to move their vehicles immediately after charging.
“We know drivers often face the pressure of moving their vehicle the moment charging finishes, especially with fast chargers,” said Rachael Turner, ActewAGL’s general manager, in a media statement. “By providing a range of charging speeds, we’re easing this stress and giving drivers the flexibility to choose a charging speed that matches their plans.”
ActewAGL expects that visitors to the Turner Parklands and nearby apartment residents will use the AC chargers, while interstate travelers seeking a quick top-up will utilize the higher-rate DC connectors. This development brings ActewAGL’s total charge ports to 40 across 12 locations.
The ACT government has committed at least $1.5 million to the Public EV Charging Infrastructure fund, which plans to roll out 39 additional chargers across the ACT during 2024 and 2025. According to user-provided information on PlugShare, the Turner charge site charges $0.58 per kWh for the 75kW CCS2 and 62.5kW CHAdeMO plugs, or $0.50 per kWh when using the 22kW AC Type 2 connectors.
