[NSW] Free Kerbside Electric Car Charging (39 Sydney Inner West Locations) @ AGL

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This deal may be scant on details at present, but thought it was worth posting

Source press article from Drive.com.au

Almost 40 new pole-mounted electric car chargers are now available for use along kerbsides in Sydney’s inner-western suburbs, with charging offered for free until 31 January next year.

Until 31 January 2025, charging at all of the 39 sites – which include places such as Birchgrove, Balmain, Lewisham, Stanmore and Newtown – will be free to encourage more people to safely top up their batteries without having to resort to riskier methods.

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Comments

  • +12

    Something something windmill chemtrails…

  • actually never thought of that daisy chain charge cable in one of the photos

    • does it actually work as well tho?

    • +5

      You mean the photo with the 2 Attos?

      The rear one is using its V2L adapter with an EVSE plugged in to charge the front one. Basically using one car to charge another. You need an EVSE that doesn’t care about no earth for it to work though.

      • +2

        No Earth? But… Earth is our home!

        • Double negative, they do care.

    • They make the pilot signal pin shorter so you can't daisy chain charging cables… Could cut the plug…but…

  • -1

    Going to have to charge tax on the one in my area. Need to employ a few bro's to enforce the rules. Pm if interested in a cash job opportunity lol

    • +1

      You have a bright future in politics

      • +1

        Maybe ive already found the backdoor to my local council "wink wink"

        • +2

          Excellent. I need to develop some sites in your area. Brown paper bags still ok? Lol

  • +2

    They're getting some great mileage out of that photo of the BYD charging through the storm drain. It's been appearing in every EV article for a week

    • +1

      They're getting some great mileage out of that photo of the BYD

      Isn't that every carmakers dream

  • +5

    What are the riskier methods?

    • +2

      People have been running extension cords across the footpath. Even dangling them from street trees.

      • +2

        There was an article recently about someone running a cable out of their storm water drain.

        • +7

          that's just proper cable management

          • +2

            @star-ggg: Fair call, much more polite than laying it across the pavement or stringing through trees.

        • Nice. Water and electricity make for a fun bath.

          • +4

            @dust: Plenty of waterproof 240v extension leads around, and worst it's gonna do is pop the breaker if it does get compromised. What intrigues me is how they got it through the pipe.

            • +2

              @Ham Dragon:

              What intrigues me is how they got it through the pipe.

              If it's like my place, I have a storm-water drain next to my house which leads directly to the street. If I put something that floats in the drain, it comes out on the street. So if you tied a floaty thing to a power lead, pour water in, 10 seconds later you have a cable run from your house to your car.

            • +1

              @Ham Dragon: There is a photo in the article a few comments down. It looks like there is a rope tied to the cable so the owner can pull it back and forth through the stormwater pipe.

        • If it’s the one I’m thinking of, I’m pretty sure they ran the conduit specifically for this and it isn’t part of his property drainage (just in case anyone is horrified at the idea of water gushing out of it!)

          • +2
            • @Ham Dragon: I don't see what the issue is. It's not raining, these cables are probably incredibly well insulated and UV stable considering they're intented for outdoor use, and the owner puts the cable away after use. Significantly better than running it over the footpath and having your elderly neighbour trip and break their wrist/hip/etc. The wear on the cable being pulled through the pipe is negligible - that looks like a PVC pipe, not a concrete culvert…

              • @braddsey: Stormwater outflow (I don't know the correct term). I don't have a problem with it, FWIW it's quite impressive, as above I'm curious how they got it through the pipe.

  • I admit I had to have a laugh at the picture of the BYD in the article in Newcastle and him running his charger through the stormwater pipe lmao.

  • +3

    How will they manage the queue of scabs lining up to score $5 worth of free electricity?

    • +4

      Why would you need to line-up? You can always check your app if the spot is available or not.

      • Because between the time you have looked on your app, found that the charger spot is available and you getting there someone in the queue that's already there will have taken it ;)

        • +4

          haha No! you can save the spot for 20 minutes in your app. I've never met user so far who refused to give the spot after showing them I did reserve the spot. So far.. Something you will never expect in Sydney.

      • You can always check your app

        Is this what passes for progress these days?

    • +1

      You misspelled UberGreen drivers

  • +3

    o wow Sydney is so behind lol had free charging all over the place in Brisbane for years.

    • +5

      There are only a few places (less than 10) as much as i know and all are taken up at all times so it's not worth driving to them.

      • Brisbane is huge covers so many suburbs try all the major shopping centers as well and even the small ones like coles. This why people should all use plug share because it tells you where they all are.

        • It's good to have free charging available at some shopping centres but should be present at all big ones for sure. However, those chargers are usually slow and are mostly occupied when you need them.

          • -1

            @skdreams: all the ones i have been too are all 3 phase AC 32kw chargers so if you are on say a tesla model 3 it would charge at 12kw model S 22kw. thats max charging speed for AC charging. Unless you mean DC charging which you should never use unless on long trips, not for everyday use.

            • @kungfuman: Sydney has also had free charging at shopping centres etc for years

              • @beltdrive: look at the plug share app shows you how very little you have in free charging.

    • +2

      I went from Brisbane to Sydney recently (driving an EV) and was amazed at how many more places are there for charging.
      Most require your own type 2 cable though, which I do not have, as I haven't seen many places that need it in Brisbane.

      • +1

        man I dont' know what suburb you live in but multiple suburbs in brisbane on the south side have many free charging spots. most are at shoping centers and shops.

        • I live in Wynnum / Manly.

          Only one I knew about was Westfield Carindale, which was chargefox and is now dead.

          I've seen a charger in Wynnum Plaza, but I assume it's paid.

          • @l o l: i used to use Carindale when they took it away but it wasn't chargefox it was chargePoint they left Australia thats why all the chargers were taken away. it was the same with westfield chemside.
            I recommend downloading the plugshare app and looking at it, it shows you all teh free chargers.

            • @kungfuman: ChargePoint, you're right.

              I did check Plugshare and didn't find anything free in a 20km radius =/
              Not that it would matter, as I charge for free at home with Ovo Energy.

              I just noticed more chargers in 5 days in Sydney (without looking for them) than I've seen here in 1.5y since I got the car 🤷‍♂️

    • Sydney is so behind lol had free charging all over the place in Brisbane for years.

      In many ways Sydney is behind. In this case it's only a free period to encourage use in an area where there is little off-street parking and it's a rare treat to get a free spot outside your 100 year old house.

  • Where are the locations of this AGL owned chargers? Can't see any listed on their webpage, just an extract from Plugshare.

    • +1

      if they aren't on plugshare they don't exist.

    • You can see them at the bottom of this page.

  • This would incentivise me to get an EV, but what happens after this deal ends?

    • +11

      return your car

    • +1

      Until 31 January 2025, charging at all of the 39 sites (…) will be free (…)

      Probably paid afterwards 🤷‍♂️

    • +1

      Go back to charging through storm water pipe.

    • +3

      Just run an extension cord to the outlet near your neighbours pool equipment. You should get a full charge by the time the risotto is done.

      • +1

        Could always find an unsecured power point in the local park. Bound to get some kilowatts while you're using the BBQ

        • Saw a Mustang plugged into one of the 2 dozen carpark outlets at Bunnings Artarmon 2 months ago. Charge your car, get a sausage sanger and a bag of potting mix all in one trip.

    • +2

      Why? Charging an EV at home is almost next to nothing.
      Jolt offer 7kwh FREE per day, 2 streets away but really can't be bothered. I have an EV and plug it in once every few weeks at home. Compared to fuel, cost isn't even a thought.

      • Absolutely, charging at home with solar and specialised EV Plan (8c/kw at night) makes perfect sense

        • -1

          Not hating solar, but those panels lose efficiency after 7 years? 8 years?

          I'm also told that solar panels cannot be recycled, and just needs to be thrown out.
          Since the optics isn't good, this doesn't get talked about much.

          • +1

            @whyisave: Let me ask ChatGPT.
            Solar panels are made of many recyclable materials, including:
            aluminum, copper, steel, glass, plastic, and silicon.
            However, some solar panels are not recyclable, such as thin-film solar cells. Some solar panels may also contain hazardous materials like lead and cadmium, which need to be handled with care.
            The recycling process for silicon-based solar panels typically involves:
            Disassembling the panel to separate the glass and aluminum parts
            Treating the remaining materials at a high temperature to evaporate the plastic
            Separating the green hardware
            Etching away the silicon particles using acid
            Melting broken wafers to use again for manufacturing new silicon modules

            • -4

              @skdreams:

              Solar panels are made of many recyclable materials,

              So this is a good example of why you shouldn't rely on ChatGPT. Just because something CAN be recycled, doesn't mean it WILL be recycled.
              ie If it cost you $20 to recycle something to gain $10 worth of material then no-one is going to do it.

              Next lesson: Windmills…

              • @1st-Amendment: Your points are valid, as ChatGPT's answer sounded disingenuous yet factual.

                PS:
                I didn't neg you.

          • +2

            @whyisave:

            Not hating solar, but those panels lose efficiency after 7 years? 8 years?

            The first system I fitted as part of the original NSW scheme (2008??) were still producing the same power as new after 11 years. The only reason they were replaced was the inverter crapped itself and a 1.5kW replacement inverter wasn't economically viable.

            I would have sold the 7 panels for $20 each but at that time I had no ownership over that system. M buddy who bought the same system had his removed last year (15 years) to upgrade to 10kW. Still producing similar power to new. Sold for $300 inverter & panels.

            The panels on my current system have a 20 year warranty and I'm confident they will last that long.

      • Why? Charging an EV at home is almost next to nothing.

        Let me quote the article in the summary: According to AGL, 30 per cent of NSW drivers lack access to private off-street parking

        Let them eat cake!

        • +1

          It is definitely a problem for those living in apartments as BodyCorps are usually against installing chargers, for no good reason.

          • -1

            @skdreams:

            for no good reason.

            Just because you can't think of a reason, doesn't mean they don't exist.
            One obvious reason is the cost. Demanding that other people pay for things you want seems to be a common pattern here…

            • +2

              @1st-Amendment: Or let’s reword that: body corporate is against you paying all associated costs of installing an EV charger into your own apartment’s car space.

              Now what’s one obvious reason they wont allow it?
              Cost is just an excuse when you offer them money to do it but they won’t.

              There’s heaps of opposition usually, even if you propose using a level 1 charger from a PowerPoint near/in your space and paying for the cost of electricity.

              And it has nothing to do with EV owners expecting everyone else in the building to fund chargers just for them, if that’s what you’re naively implying.

            • @1st-Amendment:

              One obvious reason is the cost. Demanding that other people pay for things you want seems to be a common pattern here

              Gosh, you certainly read between the lines with that answer.

              Many body corporates are denying people permission to fit their own EV charger at their own cost with no cost to the BC.

              My block allows it but the cost can be expensive. The Tesla charger cost Unit 4 $1800. Unit 8's 20 amp wall outlet was $900 and that was a special rate because the sparky was on site for another half day job and it filled in his afternoom.

              • @brad1-8tsi: Perhaps another factor is insurance/liability? I used to live in an apt, the BC were happy for me to pay for everything until they found out about additional cost/liability from either the electrician or insurer. I wanted to install the Tesla wall charger though, in hindsight maybe a simple power outlet would have gone through.

      • Why do you think this is targeting the inner west?

        The entire reason this appeals to me is because as far as I can tell there’s no way to easily install a charger in my outdoor parking space from my 60 year old apartment building

      • Why? Charging an EV at home is almost next to nothing.
        Jolt offer 7kwh FREE per day, 2 streets away but really can't be bothered.

        Many (most) houses in the Inner West (and CoS) don't have off street parking or even parking in front of the residence to enable charging from home.
        In my street of ~120 houses there are 4 houses with off-street parking. It's what you get when much of the housing stock was built 100 years ago with no need to park your transport when there were stables around the corner.

        My Grandfather used a horse for his produce delivery business until 1949 when Billy was sent to the knackery. The horse was stabled next to The Robin Hood pub in Charing Cross about 200m from home.

    • then you gotta pay the troll toll

  • Was curious about this from a recent trip to Toronto that has the same thing. Glad i never hired an EV there as it was harder than finding an in-store box of Pokemon 151. Add to that, the punters never leave the spot adds to the pain. Hats off to the dudes passing cables through a drain pipe lol.

  • +2

    A stormwater pipe in Newcastle has entered the chat.

  • +1

    It's an absolute tragedy that Tritium collapsed in Brisbane. Everytime I see these new public charging systems rolled out, I think of the Australian manufacturing jobs that could have put them together.

    • +1

      Silly comment, they relocated manufacturing overseas before they collapsed.
      They were just chasing the EV credits, they had zero interest in Australia.

  • +2

    I approached a local council / grid provider in SA to do this.
    Plan was for the home owners to be able to sell their solar export to whoever charges in front of the house at whatever rate they chose (rather than getting 1c/ kw).
    Council weren't ready and was wondering what the weather was like on the planet I come from…
    Anyone want to get on board. Send me a PM.

    • Yeah mate it isn't as simple as redirecting your power to a charger and away you go. To technically do it and make it work 24/7 is a bit of a feat.

      • Sure… Im talking app development around poling a CT/ existing inverter controls. Then there is a payment portal, security, public liability, bylaws etc etc..not too hard, but need key players (ie councils/ grid suppliers/ retailers) on board. A huge number of cars are parked on the street…might as well be filling up while parked, and the supplier makes passive income for doing nothing.
        No charger shortage/ issue if every single house is a potential charging location.

        • No charger shortage/ issue if every single house is a potential charging location.

          The logistics of that make my head spin. Every house in a council having an external charger on the curb that is maintained by the council (I am assuming that is how you want it). Can you imagine a council having the know how to run that? External chargers need troubleshooting all the time too.

          • @serpserpserp: No, it would be the house holders responsibility. Think AirBnB for EVs…AirEvnC (EV n Charge ).

            • @tunzafun001: But it can't be if on the nature strip. If it is on your land, just build your own charger and charge people to use it.

              • @serpserpserp: Well that's the thing. Ultimately many people only have street access. So will need some way to get from the house to the street.

                Nature strips are basically 'nothing strips' here. So might as well make use of them. All councils are pushing climate responsibility these days (alledgedly).

                So either:
                a) Build a half arch structure, pole, tree etc that allows a cable to go over the nature strip.

                b) Council just allows people to put a 6mm conduit under the nature strip.

                c) lay a cable with one of those trip hazard speed hump things.

                • @tunzafun001: a) was already done by someone in an inner city home and he was told it was unsafe and forced to take it down. I remember an article on it because how he had done it was actually pretty clever and cheap.

                  b) Sounds like a litigation nightmare on a couple of levels.

                  c) that has to be maintained by the council, so would be a no.

                  What we actually need is the wireless charging road surface people had talked about with EVs, that could work.

                  • @serpserpserp: a) Well that's just sad.. but the same response I got.
                    b) Not sure why. There are already cables and junk (NBN) in there anyway. This is the safest option. Would be a charger that pops out the ground, then pops back down (like they have in Norway). Would all be documented..dial before you dig etc.
                    c) Council doing maintenance…hahaha…

                    As for wireless, the inefficiencies are huge.

    • not the OPs fault. the chargers aren't publicly listed anywhere just yet - just been shared on multiple car websites for now.

      • -4

        Then it's not a deal. At best it's a PSA/Forum topic.

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