Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the best steps you can take toward a more sustainable lifestyle. Yet there’s a significant obstacle holding many Australian homeowners back. If the uncertainty around convenient and safe charging options has given you pause, you’re not alone. Across Australia, neighbourhoods are launching community projects to solve the charging gap together.
Climate change is driving more Australians toward EVs, but public charging infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. By 2035, Australia hopes to reduce emissions by 62 per cent to 70 per cent below 2005 levels, and EVs are a critical part of reaching that target.
However, when potential buyers were surveyed about barriers to adoption, 52 per cent said they’re unlikely to buy because of the lack of EV charging stations. Safety is another factor, with nearly 50 per cent% of female drivers pointing to issues with the accessibility and lighting of public charging locations. These are legitimate barriers that need thoughtful, accessible solutions.
How shared batteries store and distribute clean energy
Think of a community battery as a shared neighbourhood power bank. During the day, rooftop solar panels across your street generate more electricity than individual homes can use.
Instead of letting that energy go to waste, the battery stores it locally. Then, during peak evening hours when demand spikes, the stored energy flows back to power homes and charge EVs.
The real power lies in how community batteries transform the local grid’s capacity to handle new demand. Here’s what they enable for both individual homeowners and the broader neighbourhood:
- Increased solar capacity: More households in the area can install rooftop solar without overloading the local grid.
- Reduced grid reliance: The entire neighbourhood depends less on the main grid, especially during peak hours when electricity is most expensive.
- EV charging infrastructure: Batteries provide local capacity to support more public EV chargers without straining the system.
More importantly, even if you don’t have solar panels on your own roof, you benefit from the shared resource. The battery strengthens the entire local grid, making power more reliable for all residents.
The Australian neighbourhoods making it happen
Three community projects in particular demonstrate how local governments and utilities are making battery systems paired with EV charging infrastructure happen.
The integrated hub in Clifton Hill, Victoria
Clifton Hill is home to one of the most forward-thinking examples of how batteries and charging infrastructure work together. The project received a $750,000 grant from the government and integrates a community battery with two wheelchair-accessible EV charging bays. The dual kilowatt-hour (kWh) direct current chargers trial how batteries and EVs can reduce grid demand.
A council-led initiative in Sunshine, Victoria
Brimbank Council installed the first community battery in Sunshine as part of one of the largest projects of its kind in the area. The 500 kWh battery is powerful enough to support dozens of local houses during peak demand. It’s roughly the size of a small car and will be decorated with local artwork to blend into the surrounding park.
Expanding access in North Epping, New South Wales
Outside Victoria, New South Wales is expanding access through a government-utility partnership. The North Epping project receives federal government funding and is managed by Ausgrid. The battery is designed to promote the renewable energy transition across the region.
Taking action as EV adoption accelerates
For many homeowners in estates or apartment complexes, knowing where to begin feels overwhelming. The good news is that the setting up of a modern community EV charging solution is often fully managed by the provider, from initial assessment and design to complete installation.
The right partner handles the technical work so you can focus on the outcome. This support is increasingly critical as Australians adopt EVs at a record pace. In just the first quarter of 2026 alone, 19,491 new medium-sized electric SUVs were sold across the country. The need for EV charging stations will only grow more critical in the months and years ahead.
Proven solutions to the charging gap already exist. Community batteries paired with accessible EV charging stations are working in neighbourhoods across Australia right now. Start a conversation with your neighbours, the strata committee or the local council about exploring these possibilities right where you live.
