Sydney-based charging company ReadySteadyPlug announced plans to expand its charging network on Wednesday after securing a $1.51 million investment from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The cash will allow the firm to target up to 428 electric vehicle charging points in a bid to remove a hurdle to EV adoption.
The announcement comes after Australians bought a record number of new electric cars in March, and after automotive groups issued a statement calling for certainty about charging infrastructure.
Challenges involved in charging electric cars had stalled Australia's progress to low-emission transport, ReadySteadyPlug chief executive Jukka Sintonen said, particularly for people living in apartment buildings.
The problem is one Mr Sintonen experienced firsthand after driving an electric car in Finland for 10 years without issue.
"When I got an apartment in Australia, I realised that it (was) going to be very difficult to get a charging solution in place," he told AAP.
"It started from a personal pain point."
Rather than billing owners' corporations or residents to install high-speed charging equipment, the company uses standard power outlets and software to deliver load management and metered charging to car parks.
The charging-as-a-service approach removes large, up-front investments and could give motorists the confidence to invest in an electric vehicle even if they did not live near a public charger.
"It's a boost for uptake if you can charge at your home and it's a bit cheaper than what you would pay at public charging points," Mr Sintonen said.
"It's just like charging your mobile phone."
The company plans to operate 2000 EV charging points by 2029 with many located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Accessing reliable charging facilities had become a major concern for apartment dwellers considering an electric car purchase, ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said.
"For millions of Australians living in apartments, the absence of simple, affordable charging at home remains a real barrier to electric vehicle adoption," he said.
Australians bought more than 15,800 electric cars in March, representing more than 14 per cent of new vehicles, and motoring organisations have since called for policy changes and funding to expand charging infrastructure.
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