Chris Bowen launches EV-enabled building in Melbourne
Together with EV-charging infrastructure company NOX Energy, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has launched an ambitious EV-charging project at the Sierra Hawthorn building in Melbourne. According to Bowen, it’s the largest EV-enabled building in Australia and among the largest globally.
All of the building’s 241 residential apartments and five commercial tenancies are equipped with NOX Energy Intelligent Power Sockets (IPS) to support EV charging across the site.
This means each resident will have access to their own dedicated charging point, enabling EV charging directly from their allocated parking space. The installation also includes 10 additional IPS units and a 22 kW MSI charger for commercial tenants.
“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and quieter on our streets, but for too many apartment residents charging has been a barrier,” Bowen said.
“We want more Australians to be able to enjoy the savings and convenience that come with driving an EV, no matter whether they live in a house or an apartment.
“Charging at home is the cheapest and easiest way to power an EV, and this rollout helps make that possible for more people.”
The installation is part of the ‘Accelerating EV Adoption: Unlocking EVs for Strata Residents’ project, which supports the deployment of 2000 EV charging devices across Australian strata buildings. The project receives funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through the Driving the Nation initiative, which aims to accelerate EV adoption nationwide.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said that for the energy transition to be beneficial for everyone, apartment residents needed to have the same access to EV charging as people who live in freestanding houses.
“This project shows how innovative, low-cost charging solutions can unlock EV uptake for people who live in apartments, one of the biggest remaining barriers to widespread electric vehicle adoption,” Miller said.
With the vast majority of apartment and townhouse occupiers having limited ability to charge at home, NOX Energy said it is addressing EV accessibility challenges through the provision of affordable charge points for the millions of Australians who live in strata buildings.
“This project shows that EV charging doesn’t need to involve massive electrical upgrades or expensive infrastructure,” said Charlie Richardson, the company’s co-founder.
“By using smart power points and intelligent load management, we can ensure every resident has access to their own charger at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.”
The installation was delivered by Port Melbourne-based electrical contractor ModTech Group and incorporated stainless-steel reverse-mounted ceiling bollards developed by SSAF Australia, allowing charging infrastructure to be safely installed above parking spaces while protecting electrical equipment.
The charging hardware for commercial tenants was supplied by MSI and operates on the same NOX Energy load management and payment gateway.
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