UNSW study calls for demand led kerbside charging rollout in Australia

University of New South Wales research argues that kerbside EV charging should be planned around local demand and community needs rather than maximising charger numbers. The study notes that inner city drivers often lack off street charging access, with Sydney's Inner West Council finding about two thirds of residents cannot readily charge at home. UNSW senior researcher Bjorn Sturmberg said local councils should identify suitable locations, similar to how traffic lights are planned.

Why it matters: The findings challenge current deployment models where distribution network service providers hold significant influence over charging locations. A demand led approach could help procurement teams and CPOs target sites with genuine need, potentially improving utilisation rates and return on investment in kerbside infrastructure.