The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $25.3 million in funding for NewVolt to build a shared fast‑charging network for electric trucks in Victoria.
NewVolt will deliver three open-access, fast‑charging hubs for heavy and medium electric trucks along major freight corridors in Melbourne’s west, south-east and northern suburbs.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King revealed the news at the Freight Forward Summit in Canberra on Monday (March 30).
“These hubs, built along Melbourne’s key trucking routes, will incentivise customers to add more than 50 new electrics trucks to their fleets,” King told summit attendees.
“Scheduled to open this over the course of this year and the next, the hubs will be able to charge between 50 and 100 heavy electric vehicles.
“I look forward to seeing these as I drive around Victoria.”
King said she also welcomed further proposals from industry to help increase the uptake of electric heavy vehicles, especially to assist small and medium size enterprises.
The Melbourne charging hubs will provide fast charging to both foundation fleet customers and the broader industry.
ARENA’s investment includes support for between 50 and 100 electric trucks operating heavy freight across greater Melbourne in what represents the first phase of NewVolt’s planned national network.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said projects like this are critical to cutting emissions from one of Australia’s hardest‑to‑abate sectors.
“Heavy freight is one of the toughest forms of transport to electrify. It relies on high-powered, reliable charging and today the upfront cost of new trucks and infrastructure is a real barrier,” Miller said.
“By backing shared charging infrastructure projects like NewVolt, ARENA is lowering the barrier to entry for a broader spectrum of operators and building the foundations of a national electric freight network.”
Miller said the project would also help strengthen Australia’s energy security.
“Australia’s freight supply chain is reliant on imported diesel. Decarbonising our heavy freight is not only good for emissions, but it also means the freight sector will be protected from international oil price volatility. Projects like this can help build a more resilient transport system by powering trucks with Australian electricity instead.”
The first site is targeted to open in late 2026, with the remaining hubs to be delivered through 2027.
NewVolt CEO and Co-Founder Anthony Headlam said that since founding NewVolt in 2019, its mission has been to fast-track the Australian freight industry’s transition to electric trucks. ARENA’s investment helps bring forward that transition.
“The NewVolt Network represents foundational infrastructure for heavy vehicle electrification,” he said.
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