WA’s Workplace EV Charging Grants Ending Soon

Small and medium businesses in Western Australia keen to grab a grant to install an EV charger will need to get cracking.

The Western Australian government’s Charge Up Workplace Grants assist small-to-medium-enterprises, non-profits and local governments to install electrical vehicle charging equipment at their workplaces. Round 1 saw $2.4 million of grant funding and 403 chargers over 221 sites approved.

Round 2 of  the program kicked off with $12.5 million in the kitty to support projects, contributing up to 50% towards EV charger hardware, software and installation costs. In this round, not only are approved Level 2 AC devices (7kW to 22kW) covered, but also Level 3 DC chargers (25kW to 350kW).

Funding is capped at $5,000 per site (GST exclusive) in the Greater Perth area and $10,000 for regional and remote areas for equipment less than 150kW, and $10,000/$20,000 per site for more powerful installations.

Round 2 commenced on 4 November last year and applications were originally to close on May 3, 2024, but the deadline was extended to June 30 – so there’s less than 4 weeks to go.

Project Eligibility

Small businesses (that aren’t home-based business) with fewer than 20 employees are eligible, as are medium businesses with between 20 and 199 employees. This includes a franchisee of a large business, but only if the franchisee is a small or medium business.

All sorts of projects will be considered, including destination charging (e.g. parks, tourist attractions), workplace car parks, fleets, and public EV chargers. Grants will be prioritised to projects with a daytime and/or overnight EV charging focus. During peak demand periods (5pm to 9pm) is least preferable because it adds to demand and puts more pressure on electricity infrastructure.

Commenting on this when round 2 was launched, WA’s Energy Minister at the time, Bill Johnston, said:

“The program encourages daytime charging, enabling EV owners to utilise abundant solar energy during sunny hours, which also assists in stabilising our electricity grid.”

If the EV chargers are frequently used during the peak times of 5pm to 9pm or in a manner that is otherwise inconsistent with the grant application, money may be requested to be repaid.

EV Charger Hardware/Software Eligibility

Businesses can get quotes from qualified professionals where they wish, but hardware must be on the program’s approved equipment list. You can find specifications and approximate pricing for some of the approved devices listed on SolarQuotes’ EV charger comparison table.

Furthermore, grant recipients will need to sign up for approved subscription- based software (also detailed on the list). This, the WA Government says, will provide user benefits including performance monitoring and troubleshooting, controlling when the chargers will be used and billing features for those who want to offer charging services through a payment model.

The software will also play an important role in allowing the impact of the grant program to be assessed. Those scoring a grant will be required to provide data to the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) upon request for a period of two years. The grant will contribute 50% towards the cost of a 2-year subscription.

The WA Government believes that over time, the flow-on effects from the program’s projects will also help stimulate a second-hand EV market.

Further information on the initiative, eligibility requirements and how to apply along with FAQ’s can be found here.

Considering installing EV chargers at work? Read this first.