Austin Devaney, National Sales Manager at EVSE, has had a front-row seat to the electrification of Australia’s transport sector. Joining the company four and a half years ago, Devaney stepped into a business that was still in its infancy — just six employees working from a modest office in Seven Hills. Today, EVSE has grown into a 90-strong team spanning Australia and New Zealand, providing EV charging solutions across fleet, public, home, and workplace sectors.
In an exclusive interview with Fleet News Group, Devaney reflected on his journey and the dramatic changes he has witnessed across both the business and the wider electric vehicle (EV) industry.
“More vehicles have entered the market. There’s been more grants from state governments and more incentives for companies to go electric,” said Devaney. “Since then, not just the market, but our business, has scaled… from providing that initial turnkey solution for fleets to now offering a wide range of services including public charging and finance models.”
Shifting Fleet Mindsets
When Devaney began knocking on doors and talking to fleet operators, electric vehicles were still viewed as experimental. Most organisations were cautiously trialling one or two vehicles with AC chargers, unsure how they would fit into day-to-day operations.
“At the beginning, everybody starts with a trial,” said Devaney. “But the confusion or the weariness around how to electrify your depot fleet — that’s been solved, I find.”
According to Devaney, workplace depot charging is now well understood and replicable. The more complex challenge is how to support fleet drivers who need to charge at home or while on the road — something many organisations are still grappling with.
The Software Advantage
One of the biggest shifts Devaney has observed is the move from hardware-led discussions to software-led solutions.
“The ongoing, lasting impact on the customer is the software,” he explained. “It’s how the drivers interact with the charging stations. It’s how the Fleet Manager interacts on the back end.”
From tracking vehicle charging behaviour and diagnosing faults to managing load and alerting for maintenance, Devaney believes smart charging platforms are the key to unlocking scalable electrification. Load control, in particular, enables fleets to maximise the use of limited power supplies at depots and avoid expensive electrical upgrades in the short term.
“With software, you’re able to load control it so you can fit more chargers in the future. But eventually you hit a max, and that’s where the software helps by directing you to home or public charging,” said Devaney.
Connecting ESG with Charging Data
A major catalyst for fleet electrification in recent years has been the increased focus on ESG reporting, particularly under new Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions requirements.
“That’s where the software is really the only form they can track all of that data,” Devaney explained. “You can generate reports based on energy consumption, how long vehicles charge, how often — and integrate that into internal systems for ESG reporting.”
Devaney says this ESG pressure often comes from global head offices, but it’s being felt across sustainability, operations, and fleet teams alike. For some organisations, it’s about reducing carbon. For others, it’s also about reducing servicing costs and simplifying operations.
The Rise of Public and Home Charging
Beyond depots, EVSE has expanded its public charging footprint through the acquisition of a major DC charging network, now branded as “explore”. The Exploren network features over 1,500 ports across retail centres, hospitals, universities, and other high-traffic destinations.
“It changes how people think about refuelling — essentially re-energising,” said Devaney. “It’s charge where you park.”
Importantly for fleet operations, explore enables time-of-day pricing to incentivise off-peak charging, allowing smart trip planning to reduce costs while vehicles are stopped for deliveries, meetings, or lunch.
EVSE is also investing in curbside charging solutions — particularly in areas like Sydney’s Inner West Council — and developing new tools to make home charging easier for fleets. One such innovation is the upcoming “IQ Portable” charger.
“It’s essentially a smart, OCPP portable charger that connects to explore. Drivers can plug it into a wall, track electricity use, and be reimbursed by their organisation — without needing to install anything,” said Devaney. “No landlord approval. No apartment install. It works for PHEVs and BEVs.”
Looking Ahead to Heavy Vehicle Charging
On the horizon, Devaney sees growing interest in heavy vehicle electrification and megawatt charging, though he acknowledges the local market is not quite there yet.
“A lot of the vehicles in Australia don’t have the capability for megawatt charging right now. But we’re seeing the need emerge in Europe, and we’re developing solutions to be ready when that demand grows here,” he said.
Currently, EVSE offers DC charging up to 500kW and is planning to expand this capability over the next one to two years.
