Innovative electric vehicle (EV) technology could be a game-changer for boosting economic growth in regional towns by driving business off the highway and into the community. A three-month technical trial by Essential Energy is now underway in Mid North Coast regional town of Kew to test the fully integrated power pole AC EV charger prototype.

The new technology could open new opportunities for the EV market to expand into regional rural and remote areas, where a lack of charging infrastructure is often cited as a major barrier to EV adoption.

Essential Energy has been working with EV Charging Company ChargePost and Australian manufacturer of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Structural Profile composite fibre technology, Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) to develop the charging prototype. Fully integrated into the power pole, the charger is enclosed in a composite column, connecting to the existing overhead network with all cabling contained inside the power pole.

The community is encouraged to use the charger, located at 142-144 Nancy Bird Walton Drive, Kew, free of charge for three months from Monday 7 July 2025 and provide feedback on their experience.

The trial aims to gather insights from users to help refine the technology and unlock future opportunities for EV adoption in regional NSW.

Power Pole AC EV Charger on Nancy Bird Walton Drive, Kew.

According to Essential Energy’s Head of Commercial Development, Andrew Hillsdon the prototype is just another example of how innovation has the potential to drive economic benefits to regional, rural and remote communities.

“Publicly available EV chargers like this are expected to become a drawcard for EV owners travelling up and down the coast to take a short detour from the highway and explore local business, restaurants and facilities of regional towns like Kew,” Andrew explains.

Wagners Global Utility Lead, James Lorrimer explains how this initiative demonstrates how we can reimagine existing infrastructure to support the energy transition.

“By embedding EV charging capability into our non-conductive composite poles, we’re enabling a future-proof, resilient solution for electricity networks. Importantly, this approach eliminates the need for additional civil works or added street furniture, helping to reduce clutter and accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure, particularly in regional and remote areas where grid access and space are limited.” says James.

ChargePost Founder Matt De Propertis says his company is very proud of the partnership with Essential Energy and Wagners to deliver this innovative in-pole charging solution.

“Everyone deserves access to charging equipment no matter if you live in a big city or in the country. Utilising existing electrical infrastructure means we can all enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of switching to EV,” Matt says.

Feedback gathered during the trial will help determine the next steps for this technology and its potential to support EV adoption in regional areas. Insights from the Kew community will play a key role in shaping future infrastructure solutions that could benefit towns across New South Wales.