older sites have also not been set up to cater for different customer needs . For example , some sites have needed to be retrofitted to ensure they can continue to accommodate light trucks and cars with trailers and to meet the needs of disabled customers .
We have seen some of these issues already in Australia on major public holidays and travel dates , with existing public charging bays filling up quickly and creating delays and congestion during peak times .
Hence , matching infrastructure to rate of change in vehicle penetration will be an ongoing challenge . Different penetration drives different solutions , and infrastructure owners have the difficult task of balancing costs , experience and scale in the early growth phases .
In metropolitan areas , more dedicated charging locations will gradually become the solution for the long-term . This means that the right sites need to be identified early on and provisioned to grow with the broader EV market . In Australia we also must ensure we continue to plan to meet the needs of heavier vehicles and potential lower emissions solutions for this fleet , which will continue to play a critical role in meeting our long-term freight task .
The second insight from Norway is that site amenity , security and cleanliness is critical to attract customers making the transition . Charging an EV naturally requires longer dwell times than customers today . Ensuring customers feel safe and secure – from good lighting and round the clock staff , to well-maintained toilets and broader facilities – supports decision making on preferred charging sites .
Having a quick service restaurant ( QSR ) and broader retail offer is also important to win customers . Allowing EV users to grab a meal , coffee , or even ingredients for dinner while they charge is critical and provides a reason to bypass remote charging sites next to highways with little amenity .
For Ampol , we continue to test and learn opportunities in the QSR space to ensure we are positioning to win these customers over the longterm .
Our experience in Norway reaffirmed the important role Ampol will play in supporting Australia through the transition to electric vehicles . We will continue to reflect on these insights as we continue to grow our retail business and deliver our ambition to make AmpCharge Australia ’ s leading EV charging network .
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