Electronic car drivers in Port Macquarie will be the first in Australia to try out new technology featuring an Electronic Vehicle (EV) charger in a Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) light pole.
New South Wales electricity infrastructure company Essential Energy is conducting the month-long trial along with EV charging company, EVX, and Australian manufacturers of FRP light poles, Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT), as proof of concept that EV chargers can be rolled out quickly utilising existing electricity infrastructure.
Wagners CFT National Product Specialist – Utilities James Lorrimer said the FRP light pole has a host of natural attributes that lend itself perfectly to this application.
“For starters FRP is electrically insulating which means there’s no touch potential; that is not the same for steel or aluminium which the lion’s share of light poles in Australia are currently manufactured from,” James Lorrimer said.
“On top of that, FRP is also chemically inert which means it will not rust, rot or corrode; plus it’s non-leaching so will not leak chemicals or toxins into the environment which makes this material perfect for community areas and areas of high conservation value,” Mr Lorrimer said.
“Wagners FRP light poles also have a design life of about 50-years which means they are durable and long-lasting and will contribute significantly to reduced ongoing maintenance costs for asset owners because they don’t need to be painted or replaced as often as steel or aluminium light poles,” he said.
“And with Wagners new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), these light poles will contribute to reducing global warming by offering asset owners a carbon-conscious alternative with less embodied carbon to traditional light poles; savings of which can be used towards 2030 targets or securing carbon offset incentives and rewards.”
Wagners CFT General Manager, Ryan Leeson said the trial aligns itself with the Australian Government’s National Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy which aims to pave the way for better EV affordability, access to charging stations and massive reductions in emissions.
“Wagners and Essential Energy have had a long history of collaboration in developing innovative Australian made solutions to maximise grid resilience and community safety,” Ryan Leeson said.
“As the uptake of electric vehicles and demand for charging increases, this innovative approach that harnesses the inherent nonconductive nature of Wagners FRP light poles ensures that these assets, that are critical to the energy transition, are able to be delivered in a safe and community centric way,” Mr Leeson said.
“And just like the 1.5 million electrical crossarms we’ve manufactured from FRP right here in Australian at our Wellcamp facility near Toowoomba for electrical infrastructure owners nationally, Wagners is motivated and geared up to take on this challenge of charging Australia’s fleet of electronic cars utilising FRP light poles,” he said.
“Wagners congratulate Essential Energy on achieving this milestone and look forward to seeing this innovative trial progress into wide scale adoption.”
The streetlight EV charger is located near 1 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie and is available for use until 10 June 2024.
EVX Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Foster believes the proof of concept will be great news for local councils right around Australia.
“By combining innovative technologies with public infrastructure, this new approach to deploying much needed EV charging allows councils to potentially roll out new public EV chargers easily and cost effectively at scale and in convenient locations,” Andrew Foster said.
“Importantly, the ability to utilise pre-existing infrastructure instead of adding new electrical assets to the streetscape is anticipated to make it simpler for councils to navigate crucial planning considerations, especially when it comes to assessing the public impacts of expanding EV charging capabilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Essential Energy Chief Commercial Officer Justin Hillier said the innovation of the streetlight EV charger also provides the opportunity for people who live in housing that can’t be retrofitted with charging facilities to still purchase EV’s.
Discover more about the trial from Essential Energy
For more information on the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport/national-electric-vehicle-strategy
To get in contact with Wagners CFT National Product Specialist – Utilities, James Lorrimer https://www.wagner.com.au/main/what-we-do/composite-fibre-technologies/contact-us/
