Funding available for NSW EV fleets, chargers and council planning
Businesses, charge point operators and councils can currently apply for a combined $19.5 million across three NSW Government funding programs covering electric vehicle fleets, public charging infrastructure and local government preparation for the EV transition
NSW businesses and organisations considering electric vehicles or charging infrastructure have several funding opportunities currently open, with the programs targeting different parts of the transition.
The most immediate deadline is for businesses operating larger vehicle fleets, while separate funding is available for charge point operators installing public chargers and councils preparing their communities for increased demand for charging infrastructure.
Together, the three funding rounds have $19.5 million available.
$11.5 million available for larger fleets
Round 7 of the NSW Government's EV Fleets Incentive has $11.5 million available to support organisations purchasing battery electric vehicles and smart chargers.
The competitive funding round is aimed at organisations that have moved beyond small-scale trials. Applicants must operate a fleet of at least 21 vehicles and seek funding for at least 11 new battery electric vehicles.
Funding is available through an individual stream for businesses that own or lease vehicles used in their NSW operations and an aggregator stream for businesses providing vehicles to NSW customers through leasing arrangements.
Round 7 covers two vehicle categories: light vehicles, including passenger vehicles and SUVs, and light commercial vehicles including vans, utes, people movers and light trucks up to 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
Rather than offering a fixed rebate, the program uses a reverse auction. Applicants nominate the funding they are seeking and bids are ranked according to the amount requested for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions expected to be avoided. Funding is awarded to the most competitive bids.
Initial bids close at 5 pm AEDT on 16 October. Applicants will receive their initial ranking on 21 October before having an opportunity to confirm or revise their bid during the final bidding period, which closes on 30 October.
$5 million for public charging
Charge point operators can also apply for $5 million through Round 3 of the NSW Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Grants.
The program supports public charging infrastructure in 37 priority local government areas and has been expanded beyond chargers installed on kerbsides and power poles to include eligible installations in council and commercial car parks.
Eligible charge point operators can apply for up to $1 million in co-funding, with the NSW Government contributing no more than 80 per cent of eligible equipment and installation costs.
Funding is capped at $3,000 for each 7 kW AC charge port, $6,000 for each 22 kW AC charge port and $30,000 for each DC charge port rated at 24 kW or above.
The current round follows $6.9 million allocated through the first two rounds towards more than 1,000 charge ports.
Applications close at 5 pm AEDT on 21 December 2026, or earlier if the available funding is exhausted.
Councils can access funding for EV preparation
A further $3 million is available through the Council Capacity Building Funding Round, which takes a different approach to supporting charging infrastructure.
Rather than paying for the chargers themselves, the non-competitive program is intended to help councils address internal capacity and resourcing issues that can affect the rollout of public EV charging.
Thirty-seven NSW councils are eligible for the program, with each able to access between $20,000 and $80,000 in NSW Government funding. Six Regional Organisations of Councils and Joint Organisations can also participate in collaborative applications on behalf of eligible member councils.
Eligible regional organisations include the Hunter Joint Organisation, Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation and Canberra Region Joint Organisation.
Funding can support work including expert advice, development of policies, community engagement and other activities that build council capability around public EV charging. Councils can apply individually or collaborate with other eligible councils, subject to the funding limits applying to each participant.
Applications are assessed as they are received and will remain open until 22 March 2027.
With the three programs operating concurrently, NSW funding is currently available at several points in the EV transition: putting vehicles into larger commercial fleets, expanding public charging and helping local government prepare for additional infrastructure.
