Australian utility firm offers EV charging for $1 per day
Australian energy company, AGL Energy, has announced plans to boost electric vehicle (EV) use in the country by offering unlimited charging for $1 per day. AGL hopes the scheme will reduce the vehicles' running costs, and will offer the $365 p.a. service to customers from 1 November. Although not yet fully developed, the scheme, which was announced by the company CEO, will be offered to all EV makes and models and has been designed as a clever “carbon offset,” helping AGL to offset its own C02 emissions. Australia has a long way to go in terms of improving EV sales, with only 2k sold in 2015, and AGL hopes a new range of services will build new revenue streams to add to its traditional electricity supply business, as well as increase EV sales.

AGL will either hook up to electric vehicle chargers customers already have installed or supply them with a charger. Electric vehicle chargers cost about $1000.

Mr Vesey said AGL is looking at a range of new services to add to the traditional electricity supply business which is flatlining as more households add solar panels, energy efficient appliances and increasingly batteries and smart meters to reduce their reliance on the centralised grid.

"We continue to try to find new applications that customers want. We continue to try to build load," he said, adding that growth in demand is important because without that the National Electricity market would not overcome its 7000 megawatt overcapacity.

He outlined a future in 2050 in which not just households but smart devices talk to each other to optimise their energy usage in the interests of their owners as the computational power of the "internet of things" continued to multiply.

AGL has a few BMW i3 electric vehicles in its fleet, and promises to have 10 per cent of its fleet in EVs by 2018 Mark Bean

For now, AGL plans to install 1000 storage batteries in South Australian homes and businesses to trial "micro power plant" technology which enables individual households and firms to trade their surplus solar power to neighbours who need it at certain times and buy their surplus power at other times when they have a need.

Advertisement

Mr Vesey said the company chose South Australia because of the problems with its network stability and price volatility caused by having the highest penetration of renewable energy - more than 40 per cent - of any state.

Details of the final offer are still being worked out but charging two vehicles would cost $2 a day.

AGL has committed to having 10 per cent of its fleet in electric vehicles or hybrids by 2018. It currently has a couple of Mitsubushi Outlanders and some extended range BMWs i3.

Technology pioneer Simon Hackett has installed Redflow batteries at his business park and home as a vote of faith in the tecnology. Pictured charging his Tesla Model S from the Redflow battery. Simon Hackett/Redflow

The initiative comes as traditional electricity suppliers grapple with rapid change in technology, consumer preference and government regulation.