Overhead electric car charging trial begins to help alleviate charging troubles for those without off-street parking in Melbourne's Merri-bek council.
The inner-north Melbourne council of Merri-bek has launched a trial for boom-mounted electric vehicle (EV) charging for those without access to off-street parking.
The Council will permit 20 residents to install equipment on their property, allowing them to thread a charging cable 2.5 metres overhead to their electric car parked on the street.
Selected participants will not receive any special street parking treatment, and the Council specifically states that owners of the equipment will have “no extra rights to that parking bay”.
Merri-bek City Council is partnering with Vehicles Charging Solutions Australia (VCSA), the only approved supplier for this trial, to supply and install the boom charging infrastructure.
The installation process involves a vertical pole being installed at the front of the property, and a retractable horizontal 2.5-metre boom pole can be unfolded over the footpath, leading the charging cable to the parked car.
While questions have been raised about the safety of this method, it is already illegal to have a cable on the ground.
This method helps prevent any tripping hazards and maintains an accessible footpath.
Merri-bek has no plans to consider underground, channel-based, or other types of home EV charging at this time.
The trial is currently open for applicants, 20 of whom will be selected in this initial phase, and the Council has indicated that upon success, expansion of the trial may occur.
Only those who live in Merri-bek on Council-managed roads (as opposed to state-managed roads) with no off-street parking, and have a suitable environment to install a boom with the property owner's permission, can apply.
Those who live in Heritage Overlays will also not be accepted at this time.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
