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The Journey from Law to Leading EV Charging Innovation
Andrew Forster, CEO of EVX, joins the EV Charging Podcast to share how Australia’s urban EV charging landscape is rapidly evolving. With a growing need for public EV infrastructure—particularly for residents without access to off-street parking—EVX is deploying a scalable, pole-mounted charging solution that uses existing power infrastructure to accelerate the transition to clean transport.
From early pilots in Bondi and Newcastle to a national rollout supported by ARENA and local councils, Forster unpacks the business model, policy challenges, and technological innovations driving EVX’s expansion.
Key Insights from the Episode
- How EVX is solving the off-street charging gap with pole-mounted smart chargers
- Why community feedback and utilisation data drive every deployment
- The future of managed charging, bidirectional energy flow, and dynamic pricing
- How policy, not just hardware, will define public charging economics
- Why utilities entering the curbside charging market may harm competition
The Evolution of EVX and Andrew Forster’s Vision
Andrew Forster brings a diverse background spanning automotive sales, insurance, health, and hospitality—culminating in a strategic leadership role at EVX Australia. With decades of experience in vehicle sales and B2B operations, his transition into EV infrastructure began through conversations with EVX’s founders, who had already identified a major urban pain point: lack of public charging access for apartment dwellers and households without off-street parking.
EVX was born out of that insight. Founded by NSW Level 1 Accredited Service Providers, the company builds pole-mounted EV chargers that can be deployed quickly and cost-effectively by leveraging existing street-side electricity infrastructure. Forster joined as CEO to scale the company from a small pilot phase into a nationally recognised solution.
What Is Curbside Charging—and Why Does It Matter?
Curbside charging refers to EV chargers installed in public streetscapes, especially in areas where residents do not have access to a private garage or driveway. While this includes both ground-mounted and bollard-based chargers, EVX focuses on pole-mounted chargers affixed to existing utility poles, reducing installation costs and eliminating the need for extensive civil works.
The business case for curbside EV charging is strongest in metro areas where population density, apartment living, and limited parking intersect. Forster points out that utilisation rates in inner-city locations are already exceeding forecasts, with popular chargers occupied nearly full-time in suburbs like Bondi, Glebe, and Marrickville.
Inside EVX’s Business Model and Rollout Strategy
EVX launched its first commercial charger at Merewether Beach in Newcastle in late 2022. Since then, the company has rapidly expanded its network of dual 22 kW AC chargers across Sydney and beyond.
Unlike traditional EV charging networks that rely heavily on large DC fast chargers in commercial locations, EVX’s model is built for scale in residential streets. Key drivers of this model include:
- Use of existing infrastructure (utility poles) to avoid costly groundworks
- Partnerships with councils to identify priority parking zones and community needs
- ARENA funding to support software development, network management, and expansion
- Alignment with flexible tariff frameworks to bring curbside pricing closer to home charging costs
Forster explains that “tariff reform is the next frontier.” While residential users may charge at home for $0.08/kWh under retail offers, public charging operators often face high fixed costs and business tariffs not designed for smart, controllable EV infrastructure. This makes policy advocacy and retailer partnerships essential to achieve price parity.
Technology and Hardware Innovation
EVX’s signature design is a sleek, vertically mounted charger that blends with the pole it’s attached to—offering a minimal visual footprint. The company is now working on a next-generation charger that complies with new “flexible trading” market rules. These rules allow smart EV chargers to report energy consumption without needing traditional NMI-compliant meters, reducing both hardware size and cost.
Upcoming features in the EVX roadmap include:
- Flexible trading compliance for smaller, cheaper devices
- Managed charging functionality via incentivised user opt-in
- Real-time usage data reporting for councils and utilities
- Advanced software for dynamic load balancing and grid responsiveness
Forster also confirms that bidirectional charging (V2G and V2H) is under discussion internally. While technical barriers remain—especially for AC-based public infrastructure—EVX is watching the space closely and plans to act once consumer demand and regulatory support align.
Policy, Competition, and the Ring-Fencing Debate
A critical issue raised in the podcast is the growing push from electricity distributors to enter the curbside EV charging market directly. This raises significant concerns about fair competition, market innovation, and consumer pricing.
Forster argues that distribution businesses—natural monopolies by design—should not control the competitive layer of public EV charging. He calls for strong enforcement of ring-fencing regulations to protect independent operators and ensure market-driven innovation.
As he notes, “If distributors own the infrastructure and the electricity, they’re no longer neutral. That puts every other player at a disadvantage—and removes consumer choice.”
Fast Facts About EVX Curbside Chargers
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Charger Type | Dual 22 kW AC, pole-mounted |
| Install Time | Days, not months – no trenching required |
| Grid Connection | Overhead (and expanding to underground) |
| Target Users | Households without off-street parking |
| Backed By | ARENA, local councils, Origin Energy |
| Compatible With | All EVs with Type 2 AC connectors |
| Expansion Plan | 400+ sites across VIC, NSW, SA, ACT by 2026 |
Looking Ahead: Scaling Public Charging for Urban Australia
EVX is now targeting 400–500 sites over the next 24 months. Alongside this scale-up, the company is investing in smart pole integration, lighting column retrofits, and collaboration with infrastructure partners across WA, Victoria, and NSW.
The vision is clear: deliver affordable, reliable curbside charging at scale—without compromising on user experience or market fairness.
International expansion is also on the table. EVX is in early-stage discussions with utilities in the United States and Japan, where similar challenges exist and where no clear curbside charging leader has emerged.
