New electric vehicle charging stations

Electric vehicle owners Dave McKenna and Jeff Challis get charged up. Photo: Damjan Janevski 211755_01

Goya Dmytryshchak

Two more electric vehicle charging stations are being installed in Hobsons Bay after a 12-month trial in Altona.

Last August, the council installed the only public fast charger for electric vehicles between the CBD and Torquay at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre in Altona.

The charging station was used 682 times.

A new charging station at Laverton Community Hub is ready for use, while a second in Williamstown’s Nelson Place shopping strip will be installed within the next three weeks

Mayor Colleen Gates said the stations had two connectors, meaning two vehicles could charge at once.

“Access to local EV charging points is important for Hobsons Bay,“ she said.

“Not only will it help prepare for the increase in these types of vehicles across Melbourne and Victoria over the next five years, it will also put us on the map to attract more visitors to Hobsons Bay.

“Up to four hours of charging time is perfect for attracting visitors to Hobsons Bay for a spot of shopping, lunch or any other appointment in our eastern and western parts of the municipality.”

The stations can take three to four hours to fully power a vehicle.

They are free to use for a trial period and are a step towards the council’s aims to achieve zero net emissions by 2030.

The move follows an eight-year push by residents such as Williamstown’s Jeff Challis, who provides an electric vehicle charger to the public at his Yarraville business.

To use the stations, residents and visitors need to download and register using the Chargefox app.

Details: hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/sustainabletransport