Chargefox confirms carmakers as charging network partners

Australian EV charging network company Chargefox has announced a partnership with Audi, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz, as it cut the ribbon at its first charging station in Euroa this morning.

Chargefox unveiled its first solar, battery storage 350kW charging station in Australia, as the first part of its nationwide “ultra-rapid” charging network, which the aforementioned carmakers will utilise as they begin to roll out mass-produced battery-electric vehicles.

The next station will be built in Barnawartha North later this month, with another four Victorian stations confirmed to be built by July next year in Ballarat, Horsham, Torquay and Traralgon as part of a $2 million investment announced today by the Victorian energy and climate change minister Lily D'Ambrosio.

“Uptake of electric vehicles will help us reduce emissions and to tackle climate change,” she said.

“More Victorians will be driving electric vehicles in the future, that’s why we’re building the infrastructure to be ready to meet this demand.”

According to Chargefox chief executive officer Marty Andrews, the new network will cut down a lot of the barriers that have prevented consumers from buying EVs.

“These foundation partnerships with the world’s leading automobile manufacturers demonstrate Australia’s steadfast commitment to innovative, electric-focused, sustainable solutions within the automobile industry,” he said.

“The introduction of the Chargefox ultra-rapid charging network will help remove the sizeable barriers that currently prevent consumers from accessing alternative, sustainable, vehicular-based travel solutions.” 

Audi Australia used today's event to showcase its forthcoming E-tron electric SUV in prototype guise, ahead of its local launch in production form later next year.

The firm's product planning and pricing director Shawn Ticehurst explained that vehicles such as the E-tron will rely on fast-charging infrastructure like the Chargefox network.

“With a range of over 400km and a charging capacity of 150kW, the all-new Audi E-tron has a faster charging capacity than any current EV,” he said. 

“It’s dependent on fast-charging infrastructure like the Chargefox network, and so we are pleased to be one of the network’s founding partners. Its success will be critical to our customers’ enjoyment of the all-new Audi E-tron when it arrives in the second half of 2019.”

Hyundai will also make use of the network with its Ioniq electric liftback which is expected to go on sale before year's end, as will Jaguar's luxury I-Pace medium SUV, and Mercedes' EQC large SUV.

Chargefox demonstrated its 350kW charging station with a range of electrified vehicles, showing that the system could, in the right application, deliver a 400km driving range in just 15 minutes.

Will more Australians move over to electric vehicles if a good charging network is in place? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.