Overcoming the barriers to electrification

There’s a growing appetite for electrification and energy technology investment among Australian businesses, but many organisations are being held back by financial and implementation challenges.

This is according to Schneider Electric’s 2026 Energy Tech Pulse Survey, whose findings come at the same time as NSW prepares to introduce Right to Charge reforms that will make it easier for strata owners and residents to install EV chargers.

The survey found that more than half of business leaders (56%) identify upfront capital costs as the biggest barrier to adopting advanced energy and infrastructure technologies, while one-third (33%) cite internal capability and skills gaps. Regulatory and permitting complexity was identified by 30% of respondents.

While the Right to Charge reforms, currently before the NSW Legislative Council, are expected to help address some of these barriers by simplifying approval pathways for apartment EV charging installations, Schneider Electric said they also highlight the need for safe, scalable infrastructure as charging demand grows. EV adoption is accelerating, with more than 410,000 electric vehicles now on Australian roads.

Without appropriate planning, buildings risk fragmented installations and unmanaged electrical loads as more residents adopt EVs. Technologies such as dynamic load management and energy monitoring can help buildings support future demand while reducing the need for costly upgrades, according to Schneider Electric.

“The reforms are a positive step because they remove a significant barrier for apartment residents who want to charge at home,” said Tim Pratt, Vice President, Power Products, Pacific Zone at Schneider Electric.

“But the right to install a charger is only part of the equation. Safe, efficient and future-proofed charging depends on the right infrastructure and the right expertise.

“Our research shows organisations are grappling not only with cost pressures, but also skills shortages and implementation complexity. As EV adoption accelerates, ensuring buildings have access to qualified expertise and scalable infrastructure will be just as important as removing regulatory barriers.”

Many apartment buildings were designed long before widespread electrification was considered and may require upgrades to accommodate multiple chargers operating simultaneously. As EV adoption increases, buildings will need to balance charging demand alongside existing electrical loads such as lifts, lighting, air conditioning and other critical services.

Electrify EV is a Schneider Electric EcoXpert partner supporting EV charging projects across residential and strata developments. The company’s Managing Director, Andrew Hardingham, said the reforms will significantly improve access to charging for apartment residents, but successful projects still depend on understanding a building’s electrical infrastructure and planning for future demand.

“As more residents adopt EVs, buildings need infrastructure that can accommodate more chargers safely and efficiently. Technologies such as energy monitoring and busway-based electrical distribution can simplify retrofits and support future charger expansion,” Hardingham said.

Pratt said building owners and strata committees should be thinking beyond individual charger installations and taking a longer-term approach to electrical capacity and infrastructure planning.

“We cannot approach apartment EV charging as a series of one-off installations. A single charger may solve today’s problem, but buildings need infrastructure that can support dozens more as demand grows.”

More information about the 2026 Energy Tech Pulse Survey can be found here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Ralf Hahn