Access to EV charging infrastructure crucial to reaching net zero

Access to adequate electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in high-density residential and commercial buildings is a sine-qua-non condition to helping Australia reach its net zero targets.

With more than 2.5 million people now living in apartments in Australia, according to the 2021 census, supporting property developers to install EV charging infrastructure in new projects and working with strata managers and building managers to deploy infrastructure in existing builds is crucial to Australia’s transition to EVs.

Access to convenient charging options in high rise commercial and residential buildings is one of the key barriers to EV adoption.

Origin 360 EV has more than 15 years of experience installing EV chargers in residential and commercial developments, and its latest collaboration with Sydney-based developer Deicorp is one of its largest deployments of EV charging infrastructure to date.

Origin partnered with Deicorp on the developer’s mixed-use Western Sydney project Tallawong Village, identifying which charging infrastructure aligned most strongly with the site’s energy needs, limitations, and customer expectations at the shopping centre precinct.

In collaboration with Deicorp, Origin determined single phase 7kW chargers to be the best suited to the site’s load limitations and driver use cases, and installed140 across the development’s retail and residential complexes. They also supported Deicorp in going above and beyond what is outlined in National Construction Code 2022, installing adequate backbone infrastructure to support future charger deployment.

In addition, Origin supports Deicorp with a streamlined reimbursement system that directs EV charging costs to the right user either by debiting a shopper’s credit card or Apple Pay or charging the energy bill of residents, ensuring users and residents only pay for the energy they use. 

This means the corporate body is not out of pocket and chasing debt.
Origin’s Charging Sales Manager for eMobility, Gaurav Malik, says user experience forms a key part of Origin’s EV charger installation process.

“Understanding the capacity available on a site is a crucial step to deploying an effective and efficient EV charging system,” Malik says.

"While the infrastructure installed is the same for both the residential and retail precincts at Tallawong Village, the user experience in terms of billing and reimbursement differs depending on whether the user is a resident, shopper, or visitor.”

Malik says Origin is developing innovative solutions for retrofitting existing apartment buildings with EV charging infrastructure, a far more complex process compared to installations in new buildings.

One solution is Origin’s ‘backbone as a service’ proposition. Under this model, Origin designs, funds, builds and maintains an apartment building’s EV charging infrastructure for a fixed monthly fee. This reduces upfront costs for the building or apartment owners.

“By offering a backbone as a service subscription model, we can help existing buildings overcome the technical and financial barriers to integrating EV charging infrastructure and ensure their residents have convenient access to charging facilities,” Malik says.

Origin is supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)’s Driving the Nation program, with $4.2million of funding allocated to help fund 16 projects in existing buildings across the country.

Images: Origin partnered with Deicorp on the developer’s project Tallawong Village, identifying which charging infrastructure aligned most strongly with the site’s energy needs / supplied