Australia’s largest electric-vehicle-enabled residential building has officially launched in Melbourne, marking a major step toward making home charging more accessible for apartment residents.
The Sierra Hawthorn development comprises 241 residential apartments and five commercial tenancies, each fitted with NOX Energy’s Intelligent Power Sockets (IPS) to support electric vehicle (EV) charging across the entire complex.
Each apartment resident will have access to a dedicated charging point connected directly to their allocated parking space, while commercial tenants benefit from 10 additional IPS units and a 22kW MSI charger.
The large-scale installation positions Sierra Hawthorn as one of the most advanced EV-ready buildings globally.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, who was there to unveil the project, said: “Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and quieter on our streets, but for too many apartment residents, charging has been a barrier.
“The 251 EV chargers installed here make this the largest EV-enabled building in Australia and among the largest globally.
“We want more Australians to be able to enjoy the savings and convenience that come with driving an EV, no matter whether they live in a house or an apartment.
“Charging at home is the cheapest and easiest way to power an EV, and this rollout helps make that possible for more people.”
The Sierra Hawthorn installation forms part of the national program, Accelerating EV Adoption: Unlocking EVs for Strata Residents, which aims to deliver 2,000 EV charging devices across strata developments throughout Australia.
The initiative receives support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its ‘Driving the Nation’ scheme, designed to speed up EV uptake nationwide.
“For the energy transition to be beneficial for everyone, apartment residents need to have the same access to EV charging as people who live in freestanding houses,” said Darren Miller, CEO at ARENA.
“This project shows how innovative, low-cost charging solutions can unlock EV uptake for people who live in apartments, one of the biggest remaining barriers to widespread electric vehicle adoption.”
NOX Energy’s load-managed IPS technology distributes electricity efficiently across multiple users, substantially reducing the cost and complexity of traditional EV infrastructure.
“This project shows that EV charging doesn’t need to involve massive electrical upgrades or expensive infrastructure,” said Charlie Richardson, Co-Founder of NOX Energy.
“By using smart power points and intelligent load management, we can ensure every resident has access to their own charger at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.”
Installation at Sierra Hawthorn was delivered by Port Melbourne–based electrical contractor ModTech Group, incorporating stainless-steel, reverse-mounted ceiling bollards designed by SSAF Australia to safely suspend chargers above parking areas.
Commercial charging hardware was supplied by MSI and integrated into NOX Energy’s centralised load management and payment gateway.
The project sets a new benchmark for building-integrated EV infrastructure and signals the growing momentum of Australia’s transition toward electric mobility and sustainable living.
