NOX Energy is expanding its Melbourne apartment charging network to nearly 1,900 homes, giving more residents access to EV charging without needing to install a private charger.
Charging is already operating at four apartment communities in Kensington and Brunswick, covering more than 1,000 apartments. A further two developments in Footscray and Coburg will add more than 800 homes, with charging planned to be available as the buildings open.
The expansion follows NOX Energy’s appointment as EV charging provider for Assemble, a housing company focused on enabling institutional investment in Australian housing, including homes for people on low and middle incomes.
For fleet managers introducing electric vehicles, the rollout highlights a practical consideration: whether employees can charge where they live. Apartment residents and renters may have limited control over their parking space or the installation of electrical infrastructure, complicating the transition to an electric company vehicle.
Shared charging within residential buildings provides another option for these drivers.
Charlie Richardson, Chief Operating Officer at NOX Energy, said apartment and rental communities needed to be included in the shift to electric vehicles.
“Our mission is to democratise access to EVs for all Australians, and that has to include people living in apartments and rental communities,” Richardson said.
“Convenient charging at home can make a real difference to whether someone feels able to choose an electric vehicle. Bringing charging to nearly 1,900 homes across six of Assemble’s assets is a practical step towards making EV ownership a realistic choice for more Australians.”
The installations combine NOX Energy’s Intelligent Power Sockets with MSI 7kW Eco series chargers. Residents access the charging network through the company’s cloud-based platform and app.
NOX Energy says the system is designed to expand as demand grows, allowing apartment buildings to add charging capacity as more residents adopt electric vehicles.
The Melbourne projects cover both existing buildings and new developments. Charging is already available at the established Kensington and Brunswick communities, while infrastructure is being incorporated into the Footscray and Coburg developments as they near completion.
“Whether it’s an established building or a brand-new development, we can make charging simple, safe, and affordable,” Richardson said.
For fleets and novated lease drivers, access to shared residential charging could broaden the pool of employees able to consider an EV. The practical assessment still needs to cover charger availability, access arrangements and billing, particularly where a vehicle is used for work.
