Global fuel crisis puts EVs and renewables in focus
As Australia and the rest of the world grapples with fuel shortages and rising costs in the recent fuel crisis in history, electric vehicles (EVs) are on governments’ and consumers’ agendas, more than ever.
However, while Australian consumers are spoilt for choice as the market welcomes countless new EV-focused brands, there remains a divide between demand for greener mobility and the energy infrastructure requirements to support them.
While local EV sales surged in March, media was eager to point out the shortfall in Australia’s charging infrastructure, particularly over the recent Easter long weekend, where long queues of EV drivers waited for a small number of chargers between destinations on long drives.
Both Government and industry bodies agree that the latest fuel shock brought on by war and geopolitical uncertainty is a reaffirmation for Australia to further embrace renewable energy and zero-emission transport, and hasten their adoption at scale. While this is good in theory, maintaining the pace of rapid transformation required will be difficult while balancing cost.
Kerbside charging is the new battlefront: UNSW
A recent University of NSW (UNSW) analysis highlights how growing EV adoption is placing increasing pressure on Australia’s limited fast-charging network.
While fast chargers remain essential for long-distance travel, they come with trade-offs. Ultra-fast chargers (150–400kW) can charge an EV battery from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes, but are significantly more expensive to install, take longer to deploy, and place substantial demand on the electricity grid.
In contrast, more localised solutions such as kerbside chargers operate at power levels closer to a typical household connection. These systems can be mounted on existing infrastructure such as power poles or streetlights, enabling faster deployment and lower installation costs.
This difference is driving a shift in how charging infrastructure is being considered, from a reliance on high-power, centralised assets to a more balanced mix of solutions aligned to different use cases.
Balancing cost, speed and infrastructure constraints
The federal government last year announced A$40 million in grant funding to accelerate the kerbside charging rollout, which will commence imminently. As the fuel crisis continues to bite, state governments are taking further action to support EV adoption, with the NSW Government announcing recently that it will add a further 1,000 chargers across the state.
However, for infrastructure partners and local councils, particularly in urban areas with limited off-street parking, deployment remains complex. Delivering infrastructure at pace while managing cost, regulatory requirements and grid constraints is becoming increasingly challenging.
International experience reinforces this. Norway’s early EV growth, while successful, also highlighted the risks of rapid, uncoordinated expansion — including fragmented networks, capacity bottlenecks and inconsistent user experience.
A shift towards scalable deployment models
In response, infrastructure planning is evolving. Rather than relying solely on large, centralised charging stations, there is a growing shift towards more flexible and scalable deployment models that combine different charging approaches. In our work with infrastructure partners, we are seeing increased focus on modular and distributed solutions that enable faster rollout while maintaining system efficiency and reliability.
Case in point: Rapid kerbside deployment
We recently partnered with NHP Electrical Engineering Products to deliver an Australian-first kerbside EV charging solution, with 50kW DC chargers mounted directly onto power poles. This approach enables faster deployment, reduces infrastructure costs, and aligns charging availability with typical urban parking behaviour, demonstrating how distributed charging models can support growing EV demand.
Charging ahead
While there is an urgent need for rapid deployment of EV charging infrastructure in more areas and further implementation of the Government’s renewable energy strategy, there are no quick fixes. Technology continues to adapt to the growing need for smarter energy storage with solutions that are both more cost and energy efficient, but in many ways industry still needs to do the heavy lifting in terms of implementation and to ensure solutions are executed and managed effectively for the long term – as we see it, the future lies in developing broader ecosystems that support the needs of our time while providing the building blocks for future refinement.
By combining chargers with energy storage, solar power, and smart management systems, operators can further reduce costs, ease grid strain, and improve service reliability. Modular, scalable solutions and digital platforms enable flexible deployment, better user experience, and efficient operation across diverse charging scenarios.
Further reading:
Electrical vehicles are having a moment, but questions linger over the network
SMH
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/electric-vehicles-are-having-a-moment-but-questions-linger-over-the-network-20260401-p5zkkt.html
Growing EV popularity is leading to queues at fast chargers. Could a kerbside charger network help?
University of New South Wales
https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/04/growing-ev-popularity-is-leading-to-queues-at-fast-chargers-could-a-kerbside-charger-network-help
What Norway’s experience reveals about the EV charging market
McKinsey & Company insights
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/what-norways-experience-reveals-about-the-ev-charging-market
Australia’s first pole mounted DC charger: Delta’s breakthrough for urban EV charging
Fleet EV News
https://fleetevnews.com.au/australias-first-pole-mounted-dc-charger-deltas-breakthrough-for-urban-ev-charging/
‘Disaster’: EV owners left waiting for hours in Easter holiday chaos
News Motoring
https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/on-the-road/disaster-ev-owners-left-waiting-for-hours-in-easter-holiday-chaos/news-story/a5ae4a1eea01e5a512f61881b9397f40
Delta Insights:
How to Install High-Power DC Chargers When a Building Has a Limited Grid Connection
https://www.deltaww.com/en-US/company/insights-stories/insights/40038
How to Boost EV Charging Without Overstretching the Grid
https://www.deltaww.com/en-US/company/insights-stories/insights/40012