Daily EV news · Australia · 21 August 2026

India's Ministry of Heavy Industries approved projects covering 4,874 EV chargers with a financial outlay of INR 503.86 crore as of May 2026, spanning eight states and three public sector oil marketing companies including HPCL, IOCL and BPCL. By June 2026, total approvals reached 6,562 chargers with INR 689 crore allocated, supported by a broader INR 2,000 crore fund under PM E-DRIVE for public fast charging infrastructure. Karnataka received the largest allocation with 1,243 chargers approved, while global projects in the UK, US and Australia are also advancing with charging capacities extending to 120 kW, 240 kW and 400 kW.

Why it matters: The scale of Indian government funding and the shift toward higher power outputs signal growing procurement opportunities for CPOs and suppliers across multiple vehicle categories, from two wheelers to trucks. State level approvals and oil company involvement indicate structured, large scale tender pipelines for fast charging deployment.

Bayside City Council has switched on a pole-mounted EVX charger on Brixton Road in Cheltenham, the first kerbside unit in the municipality and part of a 24 month trial that costs the council nothing to install or operate. The dual 22 kW AC charger, delivered through a partnership between RACV and EVX, targets residents without off-street parking, including renters and apartment dwellers. Charge times range from three to nine hours depending on battery size, positioning the unit for overnight or workday sessions rather than rapid top-ups.

Why it matters: The zero-cost trial model removes upfront capital barriers for councils exploring on-street charging, while the pole-mount approach avoids footpath clutter and dedicated bay requirements. For CPOs and equipment suppliers, the RACV and EVX rollout demonstrates a scalable template for residential charging in areas where home installation is not feasible.