This grant assists eligible regional NSW destinations by co-funding the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Amount dependent on application
- Application opened: 23 May 2022
- Application closed: 11 November 2022, 5:00 pm
Program objective
These grants assist eligible regional NSW destinations by co-funding the purchase and installation of EV chargers.
An investment in EV charging by your business will:
- attract new visitors to your site
- enhance your visitors’ experience
- increase the average length of time visitors spend at your site
- enable you to promote your location and EV charging facilities through online charging maps, future EV tourist drives, and word of mouth.
By joining the growing EV charging network across NSW, you will also be part of the solution to reduce carbon emissions and help reach our Net Zero emissions target.
With EV owners planning trips around charging locations, an EV charger on your site makes your business a welcoming place to stop and stay for longer.
This program is administered by Office of Energy and Climate Change.
This program is funded by NSW Treasury.
Eligibility
The NSW Government will deliver the EV destination charging grants to regional NSW across separate funding rounds between 2022 and 2024. A total of AUD $20m of grant funding is available, with AUD $7m available in round one.
The grants will help co-fund the purchase and installation of select EV chargers and a 2-year software subscription for each charger installed. The funds are designed to support owners and operators ready and willing to support EVs at destination sites both now and in the future.
NOTE: The total funding amount and timeframes for the grants may change at the discretion of the office.
Funding breakdown
The office will fund up to:
- 75% towards the cost of an eligible EV charger(s).
- 75% towards the cost of EV charger installation (capped at $1,000 per charger).
- 50% towards an eligible EV charger software subscription for 2 years.
Who can apply
To be eligible to apply for co-funding, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- site(s) located in a designated NSW local government area
- site(s) is a specified destination type(s) (either publicly and privately owned/operated)
- site(s) has no more than one existing EV charger.
Types of projects funded under this grant
- Sites located within regional NSW and on the list of eligible destination types.
- The purchase and installation of 7 kW and/or 22 kW EV charger(s) listed on the EV destination charger list.
- A maximum of 4 chargers per site.
- A 2-year EV charger software subscription from the EV charger software list.
EV charger installation
The cost to install an EV charger varies depending on the site location and configuration. It is important to speak to a licensed electrical contractor to understand the installation costs. The cost of each of the eligible EV chargers that can be funded under the grants are outlined in the EV destination charger list. The percentage of government co-funding is based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of each charger.
Note: The grants can contribute 75% towards the cost of installation, however, this funding is capped at $1,000 per charger.
What can’t you apply for
- Grants application costs.
- Destinations that do not meet the eligibility criteria.
- Feasibility studies, business case development or council approval costs (if required).
- Chargers that have already been purchased and/or installed.
- Chargers not listed on the EV destination charger list.
- Software subscriptions not listed on the EV charger software list.
- Additional charger cables (EV drivers typically carry their own).
- Ongoing costs to operate or maintain charger(s).
- Internet costs.
- Electricity costs.
- Salaries or staffing expenses.
- Promotion or marketing costs.
Eligible destination types
The destination types eligible to apply for round one co-funding are outlined in Table 2 below.
Sites can be owned or operated by private entities, NSW Crown Lands, local government, or community groups.
| Eligible destination type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Short-term accommodation with 10 or more bedrooms | May include entire apartment blocks, backpackers and hostels, hotels, motels, bed and breakfast, resorts, retreats and lodges. Does not apply to dwellings that operate 9 rooms or less, or that can be partly or wholly used for residential accommodation purposes. |
| Eligible destination type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Amusement and theme parks | A theme park, amusement park, water park or maze attraction is an enclosed area or site that provides a variety of experiences, amusements and services often relating to a particular theme. An admission fee usually applies. |
| Entertainment venues | Entertainment venues include cinemas, clubs, casinos, theatres, performance centres, licensed clubs and nightclubs. |
| Galleries, museums and collections | Galleries, museums, collections, interpretative and/or science centres listed here must be open with some regularity. They may be art houses, crafts or any collection of interest. |
| Historical sites and heritage locations | A historic or heritage site is a location where pieces of political, military, cultural or social history have been preserved due to their heritage value. |
| Landmarks and buildings | Landmarks and buildings listed here will be objects or features that are of interest to visitors. This type can include bridges, places of worship and lighthouses. |
| Marinas, cruise terminals, and airports | Regional marinas, cruise terminals and airports utilised by leisure visitors. |
| National parks and reserves | National parks and reserves are an area, piece of land, or body of water that is protected by the state for the enjoyment of the general public and/or the preservation of flora and fauna. |
| Natural attractions | A natural attraction is one that has been created by nature and can be enjoyed by visitors to a destination, for example, beaches, lookouts, nature walks, waterfalls, state forests, rivers, lakes and dams. |
| Observatories and planetariums | Observatories and planetarium facilities that are designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena or house an instrument(s) for projecting the positions of the planets onto a domed ceiling. |
| Parks and gardens | Parks and gardens that are open to the public. They can vary in size and include botanic gardens, arboretums, display gardens and local parks. |
| Shopping and markets | Retail shopping centres or arcades with a wide range of offerings. Other businesses must sell local/regional designer/handcrafted wares or goods specific to the area to be listed. Markets include food markets or farmers markets that have a permanent venue and regular opening days. Note: One-off pop-up markets are considered events, not attractions. |
| Spas and retreats | Spas and retreats that may provide a variety of services for the purpose of improving health, beauty and relaxation through various treatments and activities, for example, day spas, wellness spas, health and wellness retreats. |
| Sports and recreation facilities | These can include indoor and outdoor facilities that would add to the visitor experience within the destination, for example, climbing walls, go-karts, gymnasiums, public swimming pools and sportsgrounds. |
| Zoos, sanctuaries, aquariums and wildlife parks | These attractions maintain a collection of wild animals, usually in a park or gardens (or tank), for the study, conservation, and display for the general public. |
| Eligible destination type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Caravan, camping and holiday parks | Caravan, camping and holiday parks with shared amenities providing any of the following forms of accommodation or the space for cabins, tents, touring caravans, motor homes, caravans, holiday homes, chalets and bungalows. They may be with or without central entertainment and sports facilities, shops and restaurants. |
| Eligible destination type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bars, restaurants and cafes | Bars listed will sell beverage products as their primary offering. Suitable bars will be in locations suited to other leisure tourism activities or precincts. Restaurants and cafes offer dining, food, or beverages as their primary offering. NOTE: This does not include fast-food franchises. |
| Breweries | Breweries offer ‘brewery or distillery related experiences or products’ as their primary offering. Suitable businesses must have 'cellar doors' that are open to the public for tastings. Experiences must be suitable for visitors to the area, not just for locals. |
| Wineries | Suitable wineries for this classification must have cellar doors that are open to the public for tastings. They offer ‘wine’ related experiences or products to the leisure tourism market. |
| Eligible destination type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Visitor information centres | Recognised visitor information centres offering information services in their region. |
| Libraries | Libraries that are accessible to the public. |
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
You can download the complete guidelines for the
File
Drive electric NSW EV destination charging grants (PDF 10.46MB)or download the preview form
File
EV Destination Charging Application form (PDF 132.87KB).
Prepare your application with this checklist
Step 1
Read the EV destination charging grants guidelines to understand the
grants and how they work.
Step 2
Check your eligibility for the grants using the grant guidelines to ensure your site:
- is located within a designated NSW local government area (page 23 of the guidelines)
- is an approved destination type (page 25 of the guidelines)
- has no more than one existing EV charger installed.
Step 3
Obtain written consent from the property owner if operating the site through a lease agreement
Step 4
Read the following guides:
- How to understand the electrical and EV charging needs for your site
- Where to install your EV charger.
Step 5
Contact a licensed electrician or licensed EV charger supplier:
- to help you understand your site, the electrical layout and capacity
- what’s needed to install EV chargers.
Step 6
Choose an EV charger (and EV charger software, if required) from the lists found on the EV Council website: electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/programs/nsw-destination-charging.
Software will be required if:
- you are applying for 3 or more chargers at one site
- you are a destination with 100 or more car parking spaces
- you are opting to apply for co-funded software, despite it not being a requirement for your site.
Step 7
Obtain quotes from licensed electrician or licensed EV charger supplier:
- get a commercial quote for the purchase and installation of up to 4 EV chargers at your site
- if you are applying for chargers at more than one site, then a separate quote must be obtained for each different site.
Step 8
Location photo. Take a photo of the proposed off-street parking location where your charger(s) would be installed.
Step 9
Understand that you will need to complete a declaration in the application form committing you to ensure each charger will:
- be appropriately operated, maintained and positioned to service 2 parking bays for the life of the charger
- be accessible to the public in an off-street car park
- include the NSW Government branding decal
- have location details published on at least one publicly available website or app of your choice.
Step 10
Have all the site and business information ready including:
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- National Meter Identifier (NMI).
Step 11
You are now ready to apply for the grants.
Address the eligibility criteria
Eligible application requirements
More than one proposed site can be included in each application, provided sites are owned or managed by the one applicant. The
following important information is required at the point of application for each site:
- completed pre-application checklist
- an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- details of each site, including:
- street address
- destination type
- National Meter Identifier (NMI)
- priority (in the instance that not all sites in an application are approved)
- written consent from the property owner if operating the site through a lease agreement using the landowner consent form
- a photo of the off-street parking location where your charger(s) would be installed
- a commercial quote for the purchase and installation of an approved EV destination charger
- a commercial quote for the purchase of a 2-year subscription for approved EV charger software when:
- applying for 3 or more chargers
- it is a destination with 100 or more car parking spaces
- opting in for co-funded software, despite it not being a requirement for your site
- a declaration committing to ensure that each charger will:
- be appropriately operated, maintained, and positioned to service 2 parking bays for the life of the charger
- be accessible to the public
- include the NSW Government branding decal
- have location details published on at least one publicly available website or app.
The office may contact an applicant to seek clarification on information included in their application. Applicants need to resolve the matter with the office within the funding round window to ensure their application is assessed in time.
Eligible payment requirements
When providing evidence of successful EV charger installation, the following important information is required to be eligible
for payment:
- a final invoice and certificate of compliance to prove a licensed electrical contractor installed the eligible EV charger at the approved site
- a final invoice showing the purchase of a 2-year EV charger software subscription (if required)
- photo evidence that each charger:
- is operational and positioned to service 2 parking bays
- is accessible to the public
- includes NSW Government branding decal (installed per branding guidelines). This decal will be sent to applicants following notification of the assessment outcome
- evidence that the location details of each charger are published on at least one online public platform (this can be a confirmation email from an online maps platform or URL link to each specific charger location uploaded online).
Eligible Local Government Areas
The NSW Government aims to co-fund destinations across all regional NSW and align EV charger coverage with current visitation patterns. Sites must be located in one of the NSW local government areas (LGAs) listed below.
| Albury City Council | Armidale Regional Council |
| Ballina Shire Council | Balranald Shire Council |
| Bathurst Regional Council | Bega Valley Shire Council |
| Bellingen Shire Council | Berrigan Shire Council |
| Bland Shire Council | Blayney Shire Council |
| Blue Mountains City Council | Bogan Shire Council |
| Bourke Shire Council | Brewarrina Shire Council |
| Broken Hill City Council | Byron Shire Council |
| Cabonne Council | Carrathool Shire Council |
| Central Coast Council | Central Darling Shire Council |
| Cessnock City Council | Clarence Valley Council |
| Cobar Shire Council | Coffs Harbour City Council |
| Coolamon Shire Council | Coonamble Shire Council |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council | Cowra Shire Council |
| Dubbo Regional Council | Dungog Shire Council |
| Edward River Council | Eurobodalla Shire Council |
| Federation Council | Forbes Shire Council |
| Gilgandra Shire Council | Glen Innes Severn Council |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Council | Greater Hume Shire Council |
| Griffith City Council | Gunnedah Shire Council |
| Gwydir Shire Council | Hay Shire Council |
| Hilltops Council | Inverell Shire Council |
| Junee Shire Council | Kempsey Shire Council |
| Kiama Municipal Council | Kyogle Council |
| Lachlan Shire Council | Lake Macquarie City Council |
| Lismore City Council | Leeton Shire Council |
| Lithgow City Council | Leeton Shire Council |
| Liverpool Plains Shire Council | Lockhart Shire Council |
| Leeton Shire Council | Lord Howe Island (Unincorporated Area) |
| Maitland City Council | Mid-Coast Council |
| Mid-Western Regional Council | Moree Plains Shire Council |
| Murray River Council | Murrumbidgee Council |
| Muswellbrook Shire Council | Nambucca Valley Council |
| Narrabri Shire Council | Narrandera Shire Council |
| Narromine Shire Council | Oberon Council |
| Orange City Council | Parkes Shire Council |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings Council | Port Stephens Council |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council | Richmond Valley Council |
| Shellharbour City Council | Shoalhaven City Council |
| Singleton Council | Snowy Monaro Regional Council |
| Snowy Valleys Council | Tamworth Regional Council |
| Temora Shire Council | Tenterfield Shire Council |
| Tweed Shire Council | Unincorporated Far West |
| Upper Hunter Shire Council | Upper Lachlan Shire Council |
| Uralla Shire Council | Wagga Wagga City Council |
| Walcha Council | Walgett Shire Council |
| Warren Shire Council | Warrumbungle Shire Council |
| Weddin Shire Council | Wentworth Shire Council |
| Wingecarribee Shire Council | Yass Valley Council |
Application process
Application process
Applications for round one must be made using the online grant management portal at energysaver.nsw.gov.au/EVdestinationgrants.
Applications for round one must be received by 5 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Friday 11 November 2022. Late applications or applications that do not meet the requirements of these guidelines will not be considered. A second round is under consideration for the fourth quarter of 2022.
| To apply for co-funding: | |
|---|---|
| Pre-application checklist | Read these guidelines and complete the pre-application checklist. This checklist clarifies the eligibility requirements and highlights essential steps to take before applying. |
| Obtain a quote | Choose a selected EV charger and EV charging software (where required) for co-funding. Seek quote(s) to include in the application for the purchase and installation of the selected EV charger. This can be directly from the supplier or a licensed electrical contractor. Note: The number of quotes obtained is at the discretion of the applicant, however, only one quote can be submitted in the application. |
| Submit an application | Visit: energysaver.nsw.gov.au/EVdestinationgrants to begin the application. The online form requires applicants to complete their pre-application checklist as well as upload their quote(s), key information and supporting evidence for each proposed destination. If the information entered does not meet the eligibility criteria, applicants may not be able to submit their application until these requirements are met. All applications must be submitted by 5 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Friday 11 November 2022 and will be assessed within 6 weeks of submission. |
| Notification of assessment | Applicants will receive an email notification within 6 weeks of their submission date confirming the outcome of their application. Successful applicants can proceed with the purchase and installation of their approved EV charger(s), which is to be completed within 4-months* of notification of their application’s success. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified during the same assessment period and advised that they may reapply in future rounds. |
| Installation and evidence for payment | Successful applicants familiarise themselves with the installation requirements set out in the grants guidelines and then proceed with the purchase of their charger and software (if required). Applicants must return to the grants platform within 4-months* of receiving their successful application notification, to submit a claim for payment. Applicants must read the grants guidelines to understand what evidence is required before submitting a claim for payment. |
* If your site has been affected by the 2022 floods, you will have 8-months to install your charger and request payment. This will be confirmed in your notification of assessment outcome email.
Address the assessment criteria
The office will assess applications as they are received. Applications are assessed on:
- the ability to meet all eligibility criteria
- provision of supporting documentation as requested
- their contribution to effective geographic coverage of EV chargers across regional NSW.
The office will review applications for completeness to confirm they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in these guidelines. Submitting a valid application does not guarantee the application will be successful. If an application does not meet eligibility requirements, it will not be considered further in the assessment process.
If multiple destinations propose EV chargers within the same region or locality, the office reserves the right to reject applications to ensure equitable geographic coverage is achieved across the state.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the Smartygrants portal (below).
After the application is submitted
Applicants that meet eligibility criteria and submit a completed application form will receive an email notification confirming the application has been received by the office for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the outcome within 6 weeks of their application submission.
Successful applicants
If successful, applicants will receive an email specifying:
- the approved site(s) (if more than one site
- included in application) the exact co-funding amount
- the due date being the 4-month timeframe that the EV charger(s) needs to be installed within (approved applications located in flood affected LGAs will receive 8-months to complete installation from the date of application approval)
- supporting documentation required to receive grant payment within the approved installation timeframe set out in the email notifying you of your application outcome (this may be 4-months or 8-months based on your LGA and recent flood impacts)
- next steps.
Successful applicants are directed to proceed to the next stage, where they can work with their nominated licensed electrical contractor to purchase and install each charger(s) within the 4-month or 8-month window set out in the notification email.
Once the EV charger(s) (and software, where applicable) is installed and operational, applicants must return to the grants application portal to provide evidence the work is complete to receive funding.
This must take place within the 4-month or 8-month installation window. Within 2 weeks of submitting the required evidence to the grants management platform, the office will notify applicants in writing and confirm their evidence has been accepted, or if required, will request further information. The office will process payment for successful applicants within 6 weeks of this confirmation email.
If evidence is deemed to not meet the requirements, the office will contact applicants to request further documentation or evidence. Payment will be withheld until applicants submit this required evidence.
Read the details outlined in the terms and conditions section of the guidelines for
further details before applying.
Unsuccessful applicants
Unsuccessful applicants will receive an email advising that their application is unsuccessful on this occasion. Only one application can be submitted per funding round. However, if an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, they can re-apply for the grants during future funding rounds.
The office encourages unsuccessful applicants to continue to use the information provided in these guidelines to purchase and install an EV charger at destination sites outside of these grants.
Further information can be found at energysaver.nsw.gov.au/electricvehicles.
Support and contact
Further information and support
Further information can be accessed through the Energysaver website. Clarification questions or queries in relation to these guidelines, the application process and the EV destination charging grants can be emailed to the office at destination. charging@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Note: This mailbox is monitored during business hours. During open funding rounds, we will monitor more frequently to ensure any application enquiries are resolved. Staff will aim to respond to all enquiries within 3 business days.
The office, in response to any question raised by a potential applicant that is deemed to be public, may upload information onto the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.
The office will not publicise details of the applicant organisation that has asked the question.