A new electric vehicle (EV) charger has been installed at 44 Cherry Street, Ballina in the heart of the Ballina’s CBD, close to Northern Rivers Regional Art Gallery, shops, cafes, and other tourist destinations.
For anyone driving an EV the installation of new chargers, particularly in regional areas is a definite bonus as the number of EVs on the roads increases. The Australian Automobile Association’s EV Index shows that battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales represented 9.6 per cent of new light vehicles sold in the second quarter of 2024.
‘Ballina Shire Council is thrilled to celebrate the installation of new electric vehicle charging stations on Cherry Street in Ballina. This fantastic collaboration with Essential Energy and EVX reflects our dedication to working hand-in-hand with the community and industry to seek innovative and sustainable solutions for our region,’ said Ballina Shire Council Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader.
‘The barriers to buying an EV are starting to disappear, but as EV numbers on our roads quickly rise, there’s a lot of work to do to ensure Australia’s charging infrastructure keeps pace, particularly in rural and regional Australia which have so far been lagging city and metro areas,’ said EVX CEO, Andrew Forster.
‘Ballina is a bustling town and holiday destination, but to date, the charging infrastructure hasn’t met the demand – particularly during key holiday periods where we are seeing queues at rapid charging stations along the main highways, up and down the coast.
‘When regional areas fall behind, this not only contributes to the range anxiety experienced by EV owners who travel longer distances, it also disincentivises those in regional areas to make the important switch to EVs.’
The kerbside chargers are delivered as part of an alliance with Councils, EVX and electricity networks which see chargers installed on utility pole infrastructure across Australia.
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