Destination charging grants FAQs

The first 2 rounds of the EV destination charging grants provided co-funding towards the purchase and installation of 7 kW to 22 kW alternating current (AC) EV chargers at regional tourism sites. In these previous rounds, eligible grant applicants were regional councils and tourism businesses that own and operate EV chargers. 

The round 3 grant provides co-funding to private EV charge point operators to own and operate lower-powered direct current (DC) public EV fast chargers at council and tourism sites across regional NSW. 

The installation of lower-powered DC chargers will complement existing ultra-fast chargers and AC chargers across the state as we continue to roll out a world-class EV charging network.

Eligible applicants in round 3 are charge point operators which for the purposes of this funding round are companies that own and operate EV chargers. To be eligible for funding, charge point operators must be:

• an entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or
• a state-owned corporation or subsidiary of an Australian state or territory-owned corporation

Yes. Local councils and visitor economy businesses in regional NSW are encouraged to register their interest in hosting EV chargers at their site. 

After a site host registers interest, the Department will share these details with charge point operators who are interested in applying for NSW Government funding to install EV chargers. 

If a charge point operator is interested in a site registered, they may contact a site host directly using the details listed. 

If both parties are interested in progressing, a site host will need to provide that charge point operator with a letter of support.   

If a charge point operator is approved for NSW Government EV charger funding at a proposed site, the charge point operator will contact the site host directly to negotiate a formal agreement.

If a site host has registered their interest and wishes to make changes or remove a site from the list, they can email [email protected] with this request. 

Registering your interest to be a site host does not guarantee that a site will be contacted by a charge point operator, nor does it commit you to becoming a site host. The information provided will be kept on file and may be used in other NSW Government EV charging infrastructure programs.

Charge point operators can request the site host list by emailing the Department on [email protected]. A charge point operator must have started a grant application within Smarty Grants before making a request. If the request is successful, a secure link containing the site host list will be shared with the requester.

A list of all eligible zones can be found in Appendix 1 of the Round 3 Funding Guidelines and on the Round 3 Eligible zone map.

For this funding round, eligible zones are areas where 24 kW to 100 kW DC chargers are required to fill EV charging gaps along established NSW road trip routes. Destination NSW manages and promotes these routes which can be found on the Visit NSW website.

A total of 71 zones were identified based on a range of criteria, including: 

•    existing EV charging infrastructure
•    network constraints
•    traffic flow
•    EV uptake
•    charger utilisation projections.  

A funding cap of up to $100,000 (excl GST) per site will be available to sites in 33 green zones and up to $200,000 (excl GST) per site in 38 blue zones. 

The assessment process will prioritise funding for sites located in the 71 eligible zones. 

Applicants can propose sites outside eligible zones if they meet all the eligibility criteria listed in the round 3 funding guidelines. 

Applicants must clearly explain why each site has been proposed and outline how installing an EV charger(s) at this location will benefit the site and EV drivers and meet the objectives of the EV destination charging grants program. Applicants can submit sites outside an eligible zone for the Department to assess, however, there is no guarantee that the site will be awarded funding. Any sites proposed outside of eligible zones will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval will be at the discretion of the Department. 

Yes, applicants can and are encouraged to apply for sites in multiple eligible zones.

Yes, multiple applicants can be successful in the same zone, but only one applicant will be approved for funding per site (at a unique address).

If multiple applicants apply for the same site, the Department reserves the right to select one applicant, based on the outcomes of the eligibility and merit assessment process. Each applicantmay receive funding for a maximum of two sites per zone.

The Department reserves the right to award funding to applicants and locations based on the overall solution that best aligns with the program objectives.

There is no limit to the number of sites proposed in an application. However, funding is capped at $4 million (ex GST) and a maximum of 2 sites within each eligible zone per application.

Letters of support are required to ensure site hosts are engaged and aware of any sites proposed by charge point operators in their grant application. The Department recommends applicants engage with site hosts early in the application process to understand site requirements, approval processes and timeframes.

A letter of support must be provided by:

• a site host (be it a private business or council-operated carpark) to a respective grant applicant for any off-street parking location
• a local council to a respective grant applicant for any kerbside charging locations within their LGA.

A letter of support template is provided here.

Yes, site hosts and councils can provide letters of support to multiple Charge point operators for the same site. Where 2 or more applicants propose chargers at the same site, the Department’s merit assessment process will determine the final charge point operator and site selection outcome.

Yes. However, applicants must effectively outline how the proposed site/s supports a tourism category outlined in Appendix 2 of the funding guidelines, including how installing a charger at the proposed site supports the visitor economy. 

Yes, however, sites will not be eligible for grant funding if they have been approved for NSW Government funding under previous rounds of the EV destination charging grants, EV fast charging grants or EV kerbside charging grants prior to this grant’s application closing date. Approved sites under those programs that have been removed from funding agreements by the Department may be considered.

A site host licence agreement is a contractual arrangement between a site host (e.g. property owner or local council) and a charge point operator. The agreement outlines the terms under which the charge point operator is allowed to install and operate EV charging infrastructure on the premises. 

An agreement may cover aspects such as: 

• location
• duration of license
• license fees
• installation and maintenance
• removal
• insurance
• ownership and termination.

No, applicants must propose EV charging solutions where a minimum of 2 bays can be serviced by 2 charge ports per site. All dual charge ports must be able to charge 2 vehicles simultaneously. Otherwise 2 separate single charge ports would need to be proposed.

A kerbside charging location is generally considered to be a place where EVs can be charged on the street and are installed on:

• the road verge
• the nature strip
• a power pole
• a light pole
• a smart pole
• a substation or telecommunication asset (adjacent to an area where a vehicle may lawfully be parked). 

In some instances, a kerbside charging location may provide an alternative charging solution if civil or electrical constraints limit installation in a nearby off-street carpark.

Under round 3, applicants may propose kerbside charging locations that meet all eligibility and merit criteria in the funding guidelines and follow all requirements outlined in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021.

Under the round 3 guidelines the Department requires a minimum of 2 DC charging plugs to support a minimum of 2 parking bays and one AC charging plug at each “eligible site”.

In line with these requirements:

• eligible power pole sites are defined as the location of up to 3 sequential power poles (evidenced by an address, geo coordinates and DNSP pole asset IDs) that support(s) the required number of charge ports outlined in the round 3 guidelines. Applicants can submit applications that propose the total number of DC and AC chargers installed on an individual pole or spread across sequential poles.
• all other eligible sites on the verge or other DNSP assets (evidenced by an address and geo coordinates) must also support the required number of charge ports outlined in the round 3 guidelines. As part of their application, applicants must submit evidence to the Department that the responsible DNSP supports the proposed mounting solution and safe cable management on any DNSP assets.

A Facilities Access Agreement (FAA) is a formal legal contract with a DNSP. It outlines the terms and conditions under which a third party, such as a telecommunications carrier or EV Charge Point Operator, can access, use or modify a DNSP's infrastructure or facilities. These facilities include power poles and substations.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the round 3 eligible zones map and turn on the “Additional POIs (Essential Energy Poles)” data layer.

• poles with 25kVA to 50kVA capacity are shown in red
• poles with more than 50kVA capacity are shown in teal.

Applicants can click on each coloured pole location to view the geo-coordinates, installed capacity, spare capacity, voltage, and DNSP asset ID to include in their grant application.

Kerbside charging locations must:

• be located between the footpath and the road so that charging cables do not impact or cross the footpath
• not obstruct vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian access to or from an accessway, driveway, or building 
• not obstruct micromobility device or pedestrian movement along a cycleway or footpath
• not conflict with any existing or planned bike lanes
• not be impacted by scheduled site re-development in the next 5 years

Further guidance can be found in the NSW Government Walking Space Guide.

A key site requirement of round 3 is that the EV chargers be installed in a parking location that allows for safe public access. When designing a kerbside EV charging solution, whether on a power pole, verge, or other DSNP asset, safe cable management must be demonstrated in accordance with the NSW Walking Space Guide.

Applicants should include details on how they will ensure safe and tidy cable management of the tethered DC charger cables proposed for kerbside installations. If a site requires AC charger redundancy, the AC charger hardware must meet the technical requirements in the guidelines for an untethered charger.

Applicants proposing to install chargers on a DNSP asset must contact the DNSP as soon as possible to discuss their plans for leasing out space on that asset.

The vast majority of round 3 eligible zones are in the Essential Energy network area. Applicants can start the process of engaging with Essential Energy by emailing a request to [email protected].

Charge point operators must work with the DNSP to confirm the suitability of a DNSP asset to support EV charging, confirm the installation requirements, and begin the process of entering into a contractual agreement for the ongoing leasing of that DNSP asset (known as a Facilities Access Agreement).

To evidence this, a charge point operator’s grant application must include either:

• a copy of the executed Facilities Access Agreement with the relevant DNSP, or
• a copy of an email reply from the relevant DNSP confirming that the proposed kerbside charging location (when on a DNSP asset) is:
  • received and
  • that the process for the CPO and DNSP entering into a Facilities Access Agreement has begun.

Successful grant recipients will need to submit a copy of an executed Facilities Access Agreement to the Department as part of their Commissioning Checklist, if this wasn’t submitted with their initial application.

No, any lease costs are considered operational and are not eligible for co-funding. Please refer to the eligible expenditure section of the funding guidelines for a full summary of eligible expenses.

Whilst TfNSW EV parking bay pavement marking is not a prescribed traffic control device for local and private road operators, the Department encourages its adoption. TfNSW signage can be found here.  

Any charge point operators looking to install chargers on council roads or make changes to parking restrictions or pavement markings must contact the applicable local council to obtain consent.

Councils interested in supporting charge point operators in round 3 grants can contact the Electric Vehicle Council at [email protected] for a list of charge point operators who operate EV kerbside chargers. Any charge point operators submitting an application for kerbside charging locations under round 3 must attach a letter of support from the relevant local council for that location to their application.

The planning approval pathway for EV chargers is under Subdivision 3 of the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021(State Policy).
A fact sheet developed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure can also be found here. 

Depending on the scale or location of the  EV charger unit, the State Policy provides 3 different planning approval pathways, including:

• exempt development relates to very low-impact development. If the proposed works meet all development standards identified in the State Policy, a local council does not need to approve them
• development with consent refers to a development that will need approval from a consent authority such as a council
• development without consent, this applies to activities undertaken by councils, NSW Government departments or agencies, or private bodies deemed to be public authorities. 

A grant recipient may nominate an alternate site if a charger cannot be installed at a site approved by the Department. This includes where applicants may have started negotiations with a DNSP on the terms of a Facilities Access Agreement but are unable to reach an agreement for a given location. 

This is managed through a variation to the Funding Deed between the grant recipient and the Department.

Co-funding for any proposed alternative sites is assessed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Department, but it is not guaranteed. Grant recipients who propose alternate sites cannot request more than the total co-funding amounts initially requested in their grant application. 

Where installation cannot proceed following funding approval, an applicant may also request to withdraw a site by emailing [email protected]

An applicant may submit a request to the Department to withdraw a site for the Department’s consideration by emailing [email protected]

Go to the EV destination charging grants webpage and click “apply now” to submit your application.

Applicants must read the funding guidelines for all essential requirements, eligibility and merit criteria, before submitting an application. 

Yes, applicants whose application have not been assessed and who have not been notified of an outcome, can request to make changes by contacting the EV destination charging team at [email protected]

In this instance, an applicant should still submit their grant application. All application requirements, including merit criteria, must be completed as thoroughly as possible to ensure your application has the best chance of being approved for co-funding.

Eligibility criteria are pass/fail. Merit responses are competitively assessed against the weighted criterion listed in Table 6 of the funding guidelines and compared with other grant applications.

An assessment panel will make the final decision on whether applications and sites receive funding based on the merit criteria as well as the identification of the combination of sites that best meets the objectives of the program.

Round 3 application open and closing dates are available on the EV destination charging webpage.

New applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The Department may contact applicants for further information about their application as required after the application closing date.

Approved grant funding can only be used for costs related to the installation of related EV charging infrastructure and cannot be used for ongoing, operational or maintenance costs.  For a full list of eligible expenditure please refer to Table 9 in the funding guidelines. 

Yes, co-funding approved for each site can contribute to the purchase and installation costs for on-site batteries or renewable energy generation infrastructure. 

The Charge@Large app will be a national visualisation and data reporting tool under development by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC). The intent of the tool will be to: 

• show users the live availability status of public EV charging equipment
• provide uptime and utilisation reporting to the Department.

Successful applicants will be required to publish site details for all co-funded chargers on the Charge@Large app using an Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) connection, to provide location information and usage data reporting requirements in the funding guidelines.

Co-funded EV chargers installed under this grant round must be owned and operated by the applicant as an eligible charge point operator  and must adhere to the relevant conditions of funding as outlined in the respective funding agreement.

The Department has engaged an external probity advisory firm, O’Connor Marsden & Associates Pty Ltd, to ensure the process is fair to all applicants and there is no bias in the assessment of charging stations and overall bids. The grants are also managed and administered in accordance with the NSW Grants Administration Guide. 

After round 3 applications close, the Department will undergo eligibility and merit assessments and an approval process. Applicants are expected to be notified of an outcome within 12 weeks of the application closing date. 

Successful applicants will be provided with a funding agreement. Upon execution of the funding agreement with the Department, projects may commence and the first milestone payment may be paid. 

Grant funding will be made across 3 milestones in accordance with Table 10 in the funding guidelines.

Indicative timeframes outlined in the guidelines may change at the Department’s discretion.

Yes, if there are more funding rounds, unsuccessful applicants may be eligible to apply for the same or different sites, provided these sites meet program objectives and eligibility requirements. 

All EV chargers approved in an application must be installed and operational within 12 months of the funding agreement being executed. Evidence of site completion must be submitted for the Department’s review and approval within 8 weeks of the site’s operational date. 

Please contact the SmartyGrants help desk at [email protected] if you are experiencing technical issues with the grant platform. The help desk team is available during 9am-5pm AEST business hours. More information can be found in the help guide for applicants.

Grant-specific questions can be submitted to the Department by emailing [email protected]

The Department will host an information session within one month of the round opening. The session will be recorded and be made available on the website.

The program team is also available to answer any questions via [email protected]

Please sign up to our mailing list for updates on this funding round and any future rounds of the grant.

NSW Government has legal obligations under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) in relation to the collection, storage, access, use and disclosure of personal information.

The Department will provide you with a privacy statement at the time of collecting your personal information that details how this information will be managed in accordance with privacy law.

Confidential information provided as part of, or in connection with, any application will be treated as commercial-in-confidence information and only disclosed with the consent of the applicant. 

The Department may disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by applicants to the following parties:

• the minister or minister’s office 
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW 
• NSW Government staff or advisers for the purpose of assessment and funding recommendations 
• where authorised or required by law to be disclosed. 

 Charge point operators who request access to the list will first be required to complete a declarationaround proper use of the list and be registered in the grant application system. Then, the organisation will be screened before a private link of the list is shared with the charge point operator.

Round 2 of the NSW EV destination charging grant program aims to support regional businesses and local councils in installing and operating EV charging infrastructure. 

Successful grant applicants in round 2 must retain full control and ownership of the EV charging infrastructure for 12 months from the date of acquittal (grant payment approval). After this time, a successful applicant may lease or transfer the EV charging infrastructure to a third party, such as a charge point operator.

If you wish to make a formal complaint about an EV charging supplier, manufacturer or software provider shown on the approved AC EV chargers and EV charging software list, please contact the EV Council by emailing [email protected]

If you are experiencing an issue that impacts your EV destination charging grant application, please contact us by emailing [email protected]

No the intent of the EV destination charging grants is to build the NSW destination charging network, support regional tourism, address range anxiety for visitors and encourage EV drivers to travel throughout NSW. 

Using EV chargers co-funded under round 2 of the EV destination charging grants to charging staff vehicles goes against the program’s intent, which requires chargers be publicly accessible to support the regional visitor economy.

Organisations looking to add EVs and charging to their existing fleet are encouraged to apply for the EV fleets incentive program.

Successful round 2 applicants are responsible for managing the ongoing operation, maintenance and running costs for the EV chargers at their site(s). Each EV charger is a valuable asset that should be appropriately managed and maintained to ensure reliable service and customer benefits. 

Applicants are encouraged to speak to their EV charger supplier to understand operational and maintenance requirements and any customer service provisions that may be available.

If your grant application has been approved but changes to the proposed installation are expected to occur, you must email the EV destination charging team at [email protected] as soon as possible to request a variation. This must be done before submitting your Grant Payment Request form. 

Requests for variations may include: 

• changing to another EV charger installer (but maintaining the same quoted costs and products), due to availability of installer 
• changing EV charger(s) model or software subscription, due to availability
• configuration of charger installation or location within the carpark included in an application 
• reduction to the number of EV chargers that a site will proceed with installers.

The variation request may result in an adjustment to your grant funding equal to or lower than the original approved co-funding amount. The Department cannot retrospectively increase funding amounts because of a variation request, any variations that result in greater project costs must be covered by the applicant. 

Failure to advise the EV destination charging team of variations may result in delays in receiving grant payments.

Applicants should email their signed letter of offer as soon as possible after the deadline has been missed. Without the signed letter, an applicant’s payment request form will not be assessed and may cause delays in receiving  grant payment. 

Once an applicant receives a letter of offer confirming their application was successful, they will have 5 months to complete their EV charger and software installation before they need to submit their  Grant Payment Request form. 

An applicant who cannot complete their eligible EV charger installation by the agreed date, outlined in their letter of offer, is required to submit a written extension request to the Department to [email protected].

Please refer to the terms and conditions on page 39 of the round 2 funding guidelines for information on extension requests.

Applicants can withdraw their application and/or advise that they no longer wish to receive their approved funding, by contacting us at [email protected]

Following installation of your EV charger and software (if applicable), applicants are required to complete a grant payment request form to demonstrate that all requirements from the funding guidelines have been met. See page 33 of the round 2 funding guidelines for the list of requirements that must be met to receive funding prior to submitting your payment request form on the EV destination charging grants website. 

An applicant can begin filling out the grant payment request form from the time they receive their letter of offer. However, an applicant should not submit their payment request before their EV charger installation is completed and they are satisfied that all grant requirements have been met.

Within 4 weeks of submitting the grant payment request form, the Department will notify applicants in writing and confirm if their evidence for payment has been accepted. 

To prevent delays, ensure all necessary documents and information have been provided in the payment request form. If unsure, please refer to our round 2 successful applicant handbook for more information on the steps and information required to receive payment.