The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded $1.51 million to electric vehicle (EV) charging provider, ReadySteadyPlug, to accelerate the rollout of low-cost charging infrastructure across apartment and strata buildings, targeting one of the most persistent barriers to electric vehicle uptake in Australia.
Funded under ARENA’s Driving the Nation Program, the project will support the installation of up to 428 charge points nationwide using ReadySteadyPlug’s Charging-as-a-Service model. Combined with co-investment from customers and the company, the initiative brings total project funding to $3.49 million.
The rollout comes at a time of rising EV adoption, driven by sustained fuel price volatility and growing consumer demand. However, access to convenient home charging remains limited for the millions of Australians living in multi-residential buildings.
ReadySteadyPlug’s approach centres on a level one charging solution that uses standard power outlets, avoiding the need for costly switchboard upgrades or major electrical works typically associated with higher-capacity systems. The platform integrates smartphone-based access, cloud metering and automated billing, alongside dynamic load management to ensure buildings operate within existing electrical capacity.
Jukka Sintonen, Chief Executive Officer at ReadySteadyPlug, shared that the model is designed to address both cost and equity challenges in strata environments.
“We know that a lack of access to charging infrastructure at home can be a huge barrier to EV uptake for the millions of Australians that live in apartment buildings,” Sintonen said.
“Our pay-as-you-go, affordable charging technology changes that, providing an accessible solution designed specifically for apartment buildings.”
Under the model, residents only pay for the infrastructure and electricity they use, removing the need for upfront capital contributions from owners corporations and ensuring non-EV residents are not subsidising the transition.
“The benefit of ReadySteadyPlug’s approach is that it does not require a large, up-front investment from an Owners Corporation. It’s a model that works for the whole building, not just early adopters,” Sintonen said.
Darren Miller, Chief Executive Officer at ARENA, shared that by accelerating the rollout of low-cost charging infrastructure across apartment and strata buildings, Australia can finally address a segment of the housing market that is often overlooked in EV infrastructure planning.
“For millions of Australians living in apartments, the absence of simple, affordable charging at home remains a real barrier to EV adoption. This project will help demonstrate solutions that lower the cost and complexity of EV charger installation, providing a replicable blueprint for strata communities,” Miller said.
For more information about the ARENA-funded ReadySteadyPlug initative, visit the ARENA website.
