New Electric Vehicle (EV) fast charging stations have been installed at Bayswater train station and other locations.
Knox Mayor, Councillor Marcia Timmers-Leitch said about 400 EVs are registered in Knox, with this number expected to grow.
"Bayswater train station is an ideal location for this free, fast EV charging station, conveniently located near the heart of the Bayswater shopping centre," she said.
"Bayswater is a hub for services, employment, public transport and housing, and a destination for convenience shopping, food outlets and retail services.
"We hope that providing access to free EV charging will bring more people and activity to our local shopping centres and support residents in transitioning to lower-emissions transport.
"On-road transport accounts for 13% of emissions in Knox. These EV chargers, which are supplied by 100% renewable power, will help our community achieve net zero emissions by 2040 as set out in our Climate Response Plan."
In a Victorian first, Council brokered a deal with Australian company JOLT to provide up to seven fast EV charging stations across Knox at no cost to Council.
The first charging station was installed at Ferntree Gully train station (in Station Street) in April while another has been installed in Scoresby Village, in the car park on the corner of Darryl Street and Lynton Place.
The Bayswater train station charger is in Station Street, off Mountain Highway.
JOLT provides up to 7kWh - about 15-20 minutes' charging time - free each day. This allows for 40-50km of driving range. If people want to charge for longer, JOLT charges about 46 cents per kWh.
Resident Chris Garland said he plans his trips around charging his electric car.
"These new JOLT chargers are quite conveniently located; my closest one is at the local Woolworths shopping centre in Scoresby," he said.
"It certainly does help planning your daily commute. Typically, I'll go to work and on the way home from work I might stop in, do some shopping and charge the car at the same time.
"I think it's a fabulous initiative by the Knox City Council to try and get more people into electric vehicles and provide a sustainable method of transport. Also, the chargers are powered by wholly-renewable energy so that's a green tick as well."
All construction and operating costs associated with these charging stations are borne by JOLT and delivered at no cost to Council.
For chargers near you check plugshare.com.
