Australia’s mining sector is accelerating its shift to electric fleets. The missing piece? Reliable, fast charging that works where the grid doesn’t reach. UON’s SMART™ DC-FC is purpose-built to fill that gap.
Ask anyone who’s tried to deploy EV charging infrastructure at a remote mine site and they’ll tell you the same thing: the technology that works in the city doesn’t cut it in the bush. Ambient temperatures that crack 50°C, dust that gets into everything, cyclones and, no grid connection for hundreds of kilometres. Off-the-shelf chargers are not designed for mining conditions.
UON is a Western Australian energy and infrastructure company that spent three years field testing before being satisfied that its solution could genuinely perform in tough conditions. The result, UON SMART™ DC-FC – a modular, off-grid DC fast charger that launched in August 2025 and is already turning heads across the mining sector.
BUILT FOR WHERE THE WORK ACTUALLY HAPPENS
The DC-FC operates without derating up to 50°C, meaning charge times stay consistent regardless of ambient heat – a critical factor for mine sites where productivity schedules can’t flex around equipment limitations. It’s IP65-rated for dust and water ingress, Cyclone D wind-rated, and liquid-cooled for sustained heavy-duty performance.
It can operate entirely off-grid, integrating with solar PV and UON’s SMART CELL battery storage or, connect with an existing grid or generator supply should the application need it. For operations in greenfield locations or constrained brownfield sites, that flexibility isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s the difference between keeping your operations working or not.
Deployment speed is another area where the DC-FC outpaces conventional infrastructure. Delivered pre-fabricated, fully wired, and skid-mounted, it can be operational within 48 hours of leaving the factory and fully deployed on site within a day. For mining operators managing tight schedules and remote logistics, that matters.
SCALABLE BY DESIGN
UON has sought to provide hardware options to suit all scenarios, power and energy demands – operations can start with a single 200kW dispenser and expand the number of liquid-cooled charging guns as fleet size and demand grows. The system scales up to 12 vehicles simultaneously, with CCS2 plugs standard across all dispensers, covering everything from light vehicles and prime movers to buses and heavy plant.
That entry-level accessibility is deliberate. Mining companies transitioning to electric fleets often start small before committing to full electrification. The DC-FC doesn’t require operators to over-capitalise up front. They can right-size the solution now and grow into it.
MADE IN WA, SUPPORTED LOCALLY
UON has been delivering energy and water infrastructure solutions across Western Australian industry for over 25 years. The DC-FC is designed, manufactured, and supported from its Malaga facility – which means parts, expertise, and technical support are all local. That’s not a minor consideration when you’re operating in the Pilbara or Goldfields and a charger goes down.
The company’s vertically integrated model – R&D, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and ongoing OEM support all in-house – means the business controls quality at every stage and can respond quickly when something needs attention. Remote monitoring runs 24/7, with local teams available to back it up.
The DC-FC isn’t a stopgap while the grid catches up. It’s a long-term infrastructure solution that works with however an operation is currently powered and can adapt as energy sources evolve. Solar today, grid connection in five years, hybrid the whole time. The system handles it.
With EV adoption across mining, agriculture, and construction set to accelerate significantly in the coming decade, the pressure to solve remote EV charging infrastructure is only going to intensify.
UON’s position is straightforward: the solution has to work in remote harsh environments from day one, every time. That’s what the DC-FC is built to do.
