A new development in Melbourne is providing a practical answer to one of the biggest challenges facing electric vehicle adoption—how to charge at home for people living in apartments.
NOX Energy, alongside Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, has launched the Sierra Hawthorn development, now recognised as Australia’s largest EV-enabled building. The project includes 251 charging points across 241 residential apartments and five commercial tenancies, positioning it as one of the most comprehensive EV charging installations in a multi-dwelling building globally.
For Fleet Managers and Sustainability Managers, this is more than a property milestone. It demonstrates a scalable solution to a problem that has slowed EV uptake across both residential and workplace environments.
Solving the apartment charging problem
Access to home charging has consistently been identified as a key barrier to EV adoption—particularly for employees who park in shared or strata-managed facilities.
At Sierra Hawthorn, every resident has access to a dedicated charging point linked to their allocated parking space. This removes reliance on public infrastructure and aligns with the broader industry view that overnight charging remains the most cost-effective and convenient solution.
“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and quieter on our streets, but for too many apartment residents charging has been a barrier,” said Minister Bowen.
“We want more Australians to be able to enjoy the savings and convenience that come with driving an EV, no matter whether they live in a house or an apartment.”
A different approach to infrastructure
What makes this project relevant for organisations planning EV adoption is not just the scale—but the method.
Rather than installing traditional chargers at every bay, NOX Energy has deployed Intelligent Power Sockets (IPS) supported by load management software. This approach allows available electrical capacity to be shared across the building, avoiding major infrastructure upgrades.
Charlie Richardson, Co-Founder of NOX Energy, said the model challenges the assumption that EV charging requires significant capital investment.
“This project shows that EV charging doesn’t need to involve massive electrical upgrades or expensive infrastructure,” he said.
“By using smart power points and intelligent load management, we can ensure every resident has access to their own charger at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.”
For Finance Managers, this is a critical insight. The perceived cost of electrical upgrades is often a key barrier in business cases for depot or workplace charging. Solutions that reduce upfront capital expenditure can accelerate decision-making and improve total cost of ownership outcomes.
Implications for fleet and workplace charging
While the project is residential, the learnings extend directly into fleet operations.
Many organisations face similar constraints—limited electrical capacity, shared parking areas, and the need to balance cost with access. The Sierra Hawthorn model shows that:
- Charging does not need to be high-powered at every location
- Load management can maximise existing infrastructure
- Scalable, lower-cost solutions can deliver broad access
The development also includes 10 additional IPS units and a 22kW charger for commercial tenants, demonstrating how mixed-use sites can support both residential and business charging needs.
For organisations with office parking, depots, or shared facilities, this type of approach could support early-stage electrification without waiting for major infrastructure upgrades.
Supporting policy and funding environment
The installation forms part of the “Accelerating EV Adoption: Unlocking EVs for Strata Residents” project, backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Driving the Nation program.
The initiative aims to deploy 2,000 charging devices across strata buildings and develop a blueprint for broader rollout.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller highlighted the importance of equitable access in the transition to low-emission transport.
“For the energy transition to be beneficial for everyone, apartment residents need to have the same access to EV charging as people who live in freestanding houses,” he said.
“This project shows how innovative, low-cost charging solutions can unlock EV uptake for people who live in apartments.”
A signal for the next phase of EV adoption
For fleet decision-makers, the key takeaway is clear: the conversation is shifting from whether EV charging is possible, to how it can be delivered efficiently and at scale.
As organisations increase their fleet management maturity—understanding utilisation, parking patterns, and energy requirements—they will be better positioned to adopt similar solutions.
The Sierra Hawthorn project provides a working example of how barriers can be addressed with the right combination of technology, planning and policy support.
For many organisations, particularly those with employees parking in apartments or shared facilities, this could remove one of the final obstacles to broader EV adoption.
