AANT Powers Up Mobile EV Charging Service

The Automobile Association of the Northern Territory (AANT) recently launched its first mobile charging solution for Darwin EV drivers caught out.

The mobile charging van can deliver approximately 15 kilometres of range in around 20 minutes; enough to get drivers to the nearest charging point within the Darwin area¹. It’s a more convenient option than towing, and more cost-effective for AANT. For AANT member EV drivers needing to use the service, there’s no extra cost as its integrated into their existing AANT coverage.

Not much information was revealed regarding the specs of the charging system, although Victron inverters and lithium batteries were mentioned.

“With the increase of EVs on Darwin roads, one of the major concerns for drivers remains the availability of charging infrastructure,” said Edon Bell, AANT Operations Manager. “Our new electric roadside assistance van incorporates the latest charging technology, providing a crucial battery top-up if the battery is flat or state of charge becomes critically low.”

So, how busy might the AANT mobile EV charging van get? I don’t have any really recent figures, but as at June this year, more than 600 battery electric vehicles were registered in the NT – a big jump on June 2023’s figure of 251. Around 63% of those vehicles were located in Darwin and the northern suburbs based on the 2023 numbers. It should be a pretty cruisy gig for a while with a decent response time, assuming the van operator isn’t engaged in other roadside service tasks.

NT Home EV Charger Subsidies

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say. If using a “granny” (aka brick) charger isn’t working out, consider a hard-wired EV charger for your home; which can do the job much faster and make good use of solar energy for those with panels installed on their home’s rooftop.

You can apply for funding to buy and install a device at your residential property or business under the NT’s Charger Grants Scheme, which is pretty generous.

• $1,000 for a residential property
• $2,500 for a business

This incentive works on a voucher system. To apply for a voucher, an applicant must obtain a quote from a service provider, then apply online through GrantsNT. Chargers also need to be on the NT Government’s approved hardware list – and there’s a bunch of them. The scheme has been running for a while and will end when allocated funds have been fully committed, but there’s no indication I could see when this might be.

More information on the scheme can be found here. If you’re not sure where to start in selecting a device; check out SQ’s Home EV Charging Guide.

Other EV Incentives In The NT

Until 30 June 2027, eligible electric vehicles can get registration and stamp duty concessions. There’s free registration for new and existing vehicles, including those previously registered, interstate transfers and imported. A stamp duty concession of up to $1,500 for vehicles valued up to $50,000 is also available. More information here.

In 2021, the NT Government released the Northern Territory Electric Vehicle Strategy and Implementation Plan to support the increased uptake of EVs and respond to the unique challenges and opportunities in the region. That document can be viewed here and a December 2023 update here – so perhaps there will be another update soon.

For information on EV (and solar/battery) incentives in each Australian state and territory, see SQ’s rebates and subsidies page.