FAQ -Charge Up Grants

• Not-for-profits registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

• Local Government Authorities as established under the Local Government Act 1995.

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with less than 200 employees and not part of a large corporation (aggregate turnover more than $250 million).

• This category includes SMEs who are:

• a franchisee of a large business;

• landowners if a substantial proportion of site occupants with access to the charger are eligible organisations; and 

• charge point operators if grant funding is required to ensure continued commercial viability, and if a substantial proportion of site occupants with access to the charger are eligible organisations.  

In addition, your site must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• be located in Western Australia; and 

• your organisation must occupy and own the land or have required permission from the landowner prior to application; or

• for installations in a shared carpark, a majority of site occupants with access to the charger(s) must be eligible organisations.

You are not eligible to apply for the Charge Up Grants if you are one of the following: 

• large businesses with an annual aggregate turnover exceeding of $250 million;

• strata management companies, noting that a strata management company may support an application made by a strata company; 

• State and Federal Government entities; 

• home based businesses;

• political organisations and unions; and 

• organisations seeking grant funding on behalf of another organisation. 

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, but consider that you have a strong case for a successful application, please contact the Charge Up Grants team at chargeup@demirs.wa.gov.au(link sends email) 

The Charge Up Grants will co-fund up to 50% for the purchase, installation and maintenance of EV charging hardware, mandatory software subscription and network upgrade costs (if required).

Purchase of EV charging hardware 

• Types of charges: single or dual port AC or DC chargers ranging from 7kW to 350kW as long as they are on the Round 3 Approved List of Software and Hardware. This means that up to four dual port chargers or up to 8 single port chargers per site are eligible for co-funding.

• Number of chargers: up to four EV chargers per site, with up to five sites per applicant. 

Installation of EV charger(s) 

• There are funding caps for the installation of chargers that vary depending on the site location and charger size.

• Installation funding capped in the Greater Perth area at $5,000 per site (up to 150kW charger) and $10,000 per site (over 150kW) (funding caps are GST exclusive).

• Installation funding capped in regional and remote areas at $10,000 per site (up to 150kW) and $20,000 per site (over 150kW) (funding caps are GST exclusive). 

• Regional and remote areas are defined as all parts of the state that are not in the Greater Perth area. 

The following installation works are funded:

• Maintenance plan for a two-year period (mandatory for public chargers).

• Civil works such as trenching and laying plinths.

• Electrical works such as cabling and switchboard upgrades.

• Purchase and installation of energy management systems (if required).

• Commissioning of hardware and/or software.

• Credit card reader. 

Upgrade of electricity network (if required) associated with the charger installation

• Network costs include costs relating to stand-alone power systems payable to Western Power, Horizon Power or Boundary Power.

• A funding cap of up to $150,000 per site applies for Western Power network costs. 

• A funding cap of up to $225,000 per site applies for Horizon Power network costs. 

Purchase of software subscription 

• A two-year software subscription is mandatory to receive grant funding.

• Software must be selected from an approved software supplier and platform on the Round 3 Approved List of Software and Hardware. 

• It is important you select your software before selecting a charger as some chargers may not be compatible with the software you choose.

The following types of expenses are ineligible for funding support: 

• Grant application costs 

• Feasibility studies, business case development or council approval costs (if required) 

• Chargers that have already been purchased and/or installed 

• Chargers not listed on the approved EV charger list 

• Software subscriptions not listed on the approved EV charger software list 

• Additional charger cables (EV drivers typically carry their own) 

• Ongoing costs to operate charger(s) 

• Internet costs 

• Electricity supply costs 

• Salaries or staffing expenses 

• Promotion or marketing costs (including signage) 

• Optional costs such as bay painting, installing bollards and adding cable holders 

• Equipment installed for future EV charging infrastructure 

A wide range of projects will be considered so long as eligibility requirements are met. The Charge Up team has developed three Project Guides to provide more information for the most common types of charging.

• Destination charging: Charging at sites where EV drivers spend a couple of hours or more at while undertaking an activity. For example, tourist attractions, dining venues, recreational facilities, accommodation etc. Slower charging is usually appropriate as EV drivers stay in the location for longer periods. Access the Project Guide for Destination Charging here.

• Workplace Charging: which includes: 

• Employee vehicles – providing charging for employee vehicles parked at your site during work hours.

• Fleet vehicles – Charging which is intended to support the conversion of some or all of your vehicle fleet to EVs.

• Can also provide charging for visitors and members of the public, if the main purpose is to provide charging for employee EVs or fleet. 

• Access the Project Guide for Workplace Charging here. 

• Public DC Charging: Charging at sites that are completely accessible (24/7) to members of the public who are typically en route to another location, requiring a quick charge (under one hour) from a faster DC charger (24 – 350kW). EV drivers pay to charge their vehicle. 

Chargers are rated in terms of kilowatts (kW), which refers to how much power a charger can deliver. Generally speaking, the higher the kW the faster the charge. 

For the purpose of Round 3 of Charge Up, there are two types of EV chargers that are funded. 

Level 2 AC chargers (single-phase or three-phase) have a dedicated charging hardware with a charging capacity of 7 to 22kW. This allows them to fully charge an EV from two to eight hours, depending on the capacity of the charger, the size of the battery in the EV and its on-board charger capacity. As a result AC chargers are often well suited at sites where EVs are stationary for a couple of hours or more while drivers work, sleep, dine or recreate. AC chargers are generally easier and quicker to install and as a result less expensive. AC chargers deliver a slower rate of charge than DC chargers, which may not be suitable for all EV drivers or sites.

Level 3 DC chargers have a charging capacity of 24 to 350kW, allowing them to fully charge an EV in as little as 10 minutes up to two hours, depending on the capacity of the charger, the size of the EV’s battery and its on-board charger capacity. DC chargers are inherently more expensive than AC chargers because of the additional hardware, called a rectifier, required to convert the current from AC to DC. This price generally increases as the charging capacity and size increases, leading to more expensive capital works or network upgrades. DC chargers are generally best suited where predominantly used by members of the public requiring a quick charge or fleet vehicles with high use during operating hours.  

Generally speaking if the EV charger will predominantly be used to recharge a vehicle that is stationary for several hours or more where EV drivers are sleeping, working, shopping or dining (e.g. employees, visitors or fleet vehicles), an AC charger may be the most suitable.  

If the charger will predominantly be used by members of the public seeking a quick charge or fleet vehicles with high use during operating hours, a faster DC charger may be more suitable.  

The Charge Up Team has developed three Project Guides to help you to design your project including understanding what charger(s) may best suit your site. These Guides have been tailored for the three most common types of EV charging. 

• Destination charging: Charging at sites where EV drivers spend a couple of hours or more at while undertaking an activity. For example, tourist attractions, dining venues, recreational facilities, accommodation etc. Slower charging is usually appropriate as EV drivers stay in one location for longer periods. Access the Project Guide for Destination Charging here.

• Workplace Charging: which includes: 

• Employee vehicles – providing charging for employee vehicles parked at your site during work hours.

• Fleet vehicles – Charging which is intended to support the conversion of some or all of your vehicle fleet to EVs.

• Can also provide charging for visitors and members of the public, if the main purpose is to provide charging for employee EVs or fleet. 

• Access the Project Guide for Workplace Charging here. 

• Public DC Charging: Charging at sites that are completely accessible (24/7) to members of the public who are typically en route to another location, requiring a quick charge (under one hour) from a faster DC charger (24–350kW). EV drivers pay to charge their vehicle.

A wide range of projects will be considered so long as eligibility requirements are met. The Charge Up team has developed three Project Guides to provide more information for the most common types of charging.

1. Destination Charging Guide: For applicants looking to install an EV charger(s) at sites where EV drivers typically spend a couple of hours or more to shop, eat, sleep, etc., requiring slower charging from an AC or lower capacity DC charger. 

2. Public DC Charging Guide: For applicants looking to install DC charger(s) at sites completely accessible (24/7) to the public where EV drivers are typically travelling en route and require a quick charge in under one hour. 

3. Workplace Charging Guide: For applications looking to install an EV charger(s) at workplaces predominantly for fleet and/or employee EV purposes, but can also include visitors and members of the public. Charging can range from slower AC charging where EVs are parked for long periods of time (overnight fleet or employee EV) to faster DC charging for fleet vehicles with high use during operating hours or for the public seeking a quick charge.

The cost of installation of your charger(s) will largely depend on whether you have been able to avoid extensive construction works and/or network upgrades, which can involve additional costs of around $50,000 to $100,000 for network upgrades alone. 

To help limit costs, it is recommended that you engage an organisation early on with relevant expertise, such as an EV charging installation company or electrical contractor, to help design and develop your project.  These experts can assess your site, your grid connection, charging needs and aims, and discuss potential solutions including indicative costs and tradeoffs.  

You will need to provide written quotes from an installer, electrical contractor and/or Approved Software Supplier as part of your Charge Up application, so working with these experts will be beneficial to your project.

For larger and/or more complex projects, costs to develop solutions and prepare quotes may be charged.  Please note that these costs are not funded under the grant program.  

Before applying for Round 3 of the Charge Up Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Grants (Charge Up Grants), you will need to obtain quotes from a fully independent party for the: 

1. supply of EV charging hardware; 

2. supply of a two-year software subscription; and 

3. installation of the EV chargers.   

These quotes will enable your application to be assessed, and the correct grant funding amounts to be calculated. Your application may also require a quote for network upgrades from your network provider. Before obtaining this quote, you should contact the Charge Up team via email on chargeup@demirs.wa.gov.au. 

It is recommended that you conduct your own research and obtain several quotes from qualified and experienced professionals. Quotes must be obtained from either (i) an Approved Software Supplier, (ii) an electrical contractor and/or (iii) an EV charger installer. All parties must be fully independent to the grant applicant.  

Quotes are usually obtained via one of three common supply arrangements:  

1. turnkey service from an Approved Software Supplier; 

2. turnkey service from an electrical contractor; and 

3. applicant engages an Approved Software Supplier, installer and/or electrical contractor separately.  

A turnkey service means that the supplier/contractor can supply you with software, the charger(s) and manage the installation process.  

The type of supply arrangement that you go with determine whether you need to obtain one, two or three quotes. For further information access the Commercial Quote Requirements Fact Sheet. 

Regardless of the number of quote(s), each quote must individually itemise costs for the following items.  

• EV charger hardware from the Round 3 Approved List of Software and Hardware (Approved List), including the: 

• manufacturer name;  

• charger type (AC or DC) and size (kW); and 

• model number. 

• EV charger installation including: 

• eligible civil and electrical works – detailed breakdown of installation components (see below); and  

• two-year maintenance plan – cost itemised separately. 

• Software subscription (for two-years) –software platform and provider on the Approved List.    

Costs that are not in one of these three categories are not eligible for grant funding and must be listed separately on the quote. This includes ineligible installation works. 

Software is mandatory for the following reasons.

• To ensure that charging is mostly occurring during the day (9am-5pm), rather than the evening peak (5pm to 9pm). See here to understand why daytime charging is important. 

• The software installed will play an important role in data capture, allowing the impact of Charge Up grants to be assessed. 

Software can also offer a range of other benefits including. 

• Making the charger location, availability and costs visible to drivers. 

• Managing billing (if you would like EV drivers to pay, you need software). 

• Understanding when and how EV chargers are being used. 

• Managing energy use and charger performance. 

• Detecting maintenance issues.  

If you have multiple chargers, it is worth spending some effort understanding offers from the various suppliers as different suppliers will provide alternative features and different fee structures. 

The Approved List provides high level information on software prices, variable costs and charger products that work with the eligible software platforms available from approved suppliers.  

The amount of time it takes to source and install your charger(s) will depend on the size and number of charger(s) being installed and whether your site requires significant excavation or concrete works. 

Sites that do not require network upgrades or construction work can expect the following times: 

• AC chargers – are about the size of a shoebox and are wall or pedestal mounted next to the parking space. 

• AC chargers will take around one to two days for construction works. 

• Approved suppliers have committed to making AC chargers (on the Approved List) available in Australia in no more than three months.   

• DC chargers – are about the size of a fridge and are usually ground mounted (some below 40kW are wall mounted) next to the parking space. 

• A typical DC charging site will take around one week to construct. 

• Approved suppliers have committed to making DC chargers (on the Approved List) available in Australia in no more than nine months.   

If you require a network upgrade and/or significant construction works the process will take a lot longer, with network upgrades often taking 12 to 15 months to complete.

This question is most relevant when you are considering the installation of a DC charger, have a number of potential installation sites and want to select a site with the lowest network upgrade costs.  

For example, you may be an organisation with multiple sites in the metropolitan area and have flexibility in the site to install a DC charger for your fleet vehicles. Or you may be a local government authority planning to install a DC charger for public use and have several options on council owned land under consideration. Where this applies, you are encouraged to contact the Charge Up team as we may be able to work with your network operator to identify the lowest cost option.

Take the time to work through the following considerations with your installer or electrical contractor for a safe and efficient installation.

• DC chargers are heavy and require concrete footings and specialist lifting equipment to be installed. This will be managed by your installer or electrical contractor.

• Some installations require trenches and overhead work that can be dangerous for pedestrians. Please consider: 

• pedestrian access and diversion; 

• vehicle movements; and

• appropriate safety precautions like signs, barriers, etc. 

• For highway sites, be careful of vehicle movements, as cars coming off a highway can be moving quickly and potentially cause damage to workers and equipment. 

If your installer or electrical contractor identifies that your network connection needs an upgrade, follow the steps below.

1. Request that your installer or electrical contractor obtains an official quote from your network operator (make sure they mention Charge Up).

Tip: To avoid incurring unnecessary quote fees, contact the Charge Up team to undertake a preliminary assessment to indicate the likely success of your application.

2. The network provider will then engage an engineer to determine the scope of works and costs. 

Once you have an official quote contact the Charge Up team to re-open your application to submit the quote.

Network upgrades may need to occur if there is not enough power at a site to cater for the additional electrical load of the charger(s). A network upgrade increases the power supply to a site and can allow a new piece of equipment to operate, and may be more likely required for DC chargers.

Avoid expensive network upgrades where possible, by: 

1. asking your installer or electrical contractor to advise how much spare electrical capacity is at your site (by inspecting your switchboard); and 

2. choosing charger(s) sized within the available capacity at your site or consider another site. 

Network upgrades can involve costs exceeding $100,000. For more information on how to avoid expensive network upgrades you can refer to your Project Guide or you are encouraged to contact the Charge Up team. 

If your installer or electrical contractor identifies that your network connection needs an upgrade, follow the steps below.

1. Request that your installer or electrical contractor obtains an official quote from your network operator (make sure they mention Charge Up).

Tip: To avoid incurring unnecessary quote fees, contact the Charge Up team to undertake a preliminary assessment to indicate the likely success of your application.

2. The network provider will then engage an engineer to determine the scope of works and costs. 

Once you have an official quote contact the Charge Up team to re-open your application to submit the quote.

Applications must be submitted via the application portal on SmartyGrants before 5pm on 30 June 2025. 

You can preview the application form on SmartyGrants well in advance of the closing date to understand what information you are required to provide. It is also recommended that you read your relevant Project Guide before submitting your application.

Immediately after submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming receipt. This email does not mean you have received approval. 

NOTE: Chargers installed prior to receiving notification of a successful application are not eligible for co-funding.

You will be contacted about your application via email notifying you of the outcome within about 20 business days of submission with relevant information and next steps. In some cases, the Charge Up team may require clarification or more information to continue assessing your application.’

CPOs and applications seeking grant funding over $75,000 may take longer as they will also be assessed by the Grants Program Steering Committee

Once all of the criteria are met and your project is approved, you will receive a notification email. The email will include the approved site(s), the co-funding amount and details of the documentation you will need to submit following installation to receive your grant funds. 

If you are having an issue with the SmartyGrants portal when submitting your application for Round 3 of Charge Up, please visit the SmartyGrants Applicant Help site. In the top right-hand corner, you will find an Applicant Help Guide and Applicant FAQs, along with SmartyGrants service contact details. 

If you are having an issue with the contents of the grant application, please contact the Charge Up Team at chargeup@demirs.wa.gov.au

Once your application has been submitted, you will need to contact Charge Up at chargeup@demirs.wa.gov.au if you need to make any edits providing the reason/s for the changes. The team will then provide you with a second application, prefilled with the previous answers.  

You will then be able to login to your SmartyGrants account and make edits, ensuring everything is correct before pressing the submit button. 

If successful, you must proceed with installation within 18 months (for DC chargers only) from the approval date at the location specified in your application. You will receive this information from the Charge Up team when you are notified of the outcome.

Once installed, you will: 

• be reimbursed after you have met the grant requirements and lodged a Reimbursement Form

• subscribe to a maintenance program for the chargers for at least two years and ensure the chargers remain installed for at least five years; and

• (if requested) provide additional information and data on charger use (from software). 

See the Funding Guidelines for further information on the terms and conditions. 

You will receive grant funds after installation of the chargers. Once the installation is complete you will need to provide evidence of the charger/s being installed via the application portal (including a paid invoice(s) from an approved contractor, photograph of the installed charger in situ, photograph of the serial number for each charger installed and the paid invoice from the software provider. 

Payment will then be made by direct bank transfer. We will endeavour to ensure that the approved funds are transferred to you within 20 business days after receipt of the required documentation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not purchase your charger or commence installation before receiving formal approval.  We cannot reimburse funds spent before your Charge Up grant approval was sent. 

Charge Up encourages EV charging during the day and overnight, as opposed to during the evening peak period of 5pm to 9pm. This not only makes great use of the abundant solar energy flowing through the electricity grid during the day, but also reduces the impact on the wider electricity grid during peak use times, especially as more people make the switch to EVs.

Charging during peak demand periods (5pm to 9pm) is least preferable, as it puts more strain on the network, as well as missing out on the high volumes of solar generation. For more read the guidelines and the Benefits of daytime charging. 

Different options for managing peak charging are appropriate for different use cases. 

Public chargers: If your charger(s) are going to be available to members of the public (including visitors), you should ideally make the charger(s) available at all times and make the price for charging during peak times more expensive than at other times. This type of billing arrangement can be implemented using any of the software programs on the Charge Up Approved List. You should not implement trickle charging or turn chargers off from 5pm to 9pm in these situations. 

Fleet/employee EV chargers: Fleet/employee EV charging should not occur during the evening peak period of 5pm to 9pm unless it is necessary as a business/operational requirement. Vehicles should be charged during the day or can be scheduled to commence their overnight charge after 9pm. 

These are general rules only. Exceptions apply where needed to satisfy business/operational requirements or where appropriate alternative arrangements are proposed by the applicant. 

Installing an EV charger has the potential to substantially increase your electricity usage, and by extension, your electricity bill. Additionally, in some cases EV chargers may increase your site’s maximum electricity demand in a way which increases your electricity tariff and, subsequently, the amount you pay per unit of electricity. It is a good idea to ask your electricity retailer about any potential electricity bill increases associated with an EV charger before making a grant application.   

In considering these additional costs you should also note that you will receive the benefit of lowering your fuel bill (petrol or diesel) for fleet use or generate revenue from public charging. 

This is determined by the applicant. If you are approved for a grant, you will be able to decide who can use the charger(s). You can restrict access to your fleet and/or your employees or open it up for public use. 

You will also be able to decide the basis for use of the charges – for example, if they will be free, paid or offered as an employee benefit. The approved software required under Charge Up enables billing of customers using the charger.  You could also consider offering it as a value add for existing customers if you consider that to be appropriate. 

Successful applicants will be required to provide data from all EV chargers co-funded by the program to DEMIRS upon request for a period of two years commencing on the date the charger(s) are installed. 

The data to be provided includes, but is not limited to, the quantity of electricity used by the EV charger(s) and the time the charger is used.

Data is expected to be obtained through the software providers. 

As part of the application process, applicants are required to agree to: 

• Comply with any reasonable request from DEMIRS for information about the applicant’s approved EV installation project (for example responding to surveys about EV uptake and use, and how the EV charger(s) are being used). 

• DEMIRS using the data to review program outcomes and inform future policy development. 

• DEMIRS using the data to conduct audits of the use of EV charger(s) co-funded by the program to determine whether usage is consistent with the time periods specified in the grant application. 

• DEMIRS providing data to Western Power and/or the Australian Energy Market Operator for the purpose of registering EV charger(s) co-funded by the program on the DER Register. 

For more information read the Terms and Conditions in the Funding Guidelines. 

If the EV chargers are used in a manner that is inconsistent with the grant application, for example, frequent use of the EV chargers during the peak time of 5pm to 9pm, grant money may be requested to be repaid. Note that you can consider strategies to avoid or reduce this problem, including:

• employee training to ensure fleet vehicles are scheduled to charge after 9pm (for overnight charging); and 

• increasing the price for public charging during peak periods (to incentivise charging outside these hours).