FLEETDRIVE
Pictured above : Ohme ’ s Mobility Director , Peter McDonald
Introducing Smart Charging to Australian Drivers
One of the biggest challenges in home EV charging is understanding energy pricing — a factor Peter says many drivers overlook . “ Our experience with home energy is that not a lot of [ people ] don ’ t always know the structure of their tariffs ,” Peter noted .
Ohme ’ s model , which has been successful in Europe , uses smart tariffs to optimise charging based on off-peak electricity rates . The system allows EVs to charge when energy demand is low — typically overnight — helping reduce costs for drivers and improve grid efficiency .
Introducing this business model in Australia , Ohme has an in-app feature where users can enter their postcode to view available energy tariffs in their area . This would help drivers compare rates and optimise charging schedules accordingly .
EV Fleet Needs in the Australian Market
While individual drivers will play a role in overall EV adoption , Peter sees fleet and leasing companies as key players in the transition .
In the UK , the majority of EVs are fleet vehicles , meaning corporate buyers drive much of the demand . If Australia follows a similar path , charging solutions tailored for fleets will be crucial .
“ Ultimately , they will like a robust partner because fleets [...] will be buying hundreds and hundreds of EVs all at once ,” Peter said . “ Our experience of fleets that have had success doing this in Europe is they have been supportive in their role out of electric cars and electric vans .”
Challenges Ahead : Is Australia Ready for Smart Tariffs ?
Despite the benefits of dynamic tariffs , adoption in Australia is still in its early stages . Developments of renewable energy Australia make the country attractive for companies like Ohme , who advocate for dynamic and smart tariffs to make EV charging more affordable and practical for drivers . Furthermore , Australia ’ s local energy organisations such as Origin Energy , AGL , OVO Energy and Energy Queensland already have established relationships or partnerships with energy providers in the UK energy market .
For Australia , charging ports will need to be more frequent within the country particularly for regional and high-traffic areas . For EV drivers , these are available within their homes but could come at a cost without the support of smart tariffs .
Looking to the Future
Peter predicts that in 50 years , EVs will comprise majority of Australia ’ s vehicles and their chargers will be right there to supplement that . “ We see Australia as a market where lots of people have a driveway , lots of people have solar [ power ]. There will be lots more customers that have an EV in time ,” Peter said .
While Ohme sees itself as a potential partner for OEMs and leasing companies , its success in Australia — like any EV charging provider — will depend on how quickly the energy and transport sectors align with them to make the EV shift easier .
As EV transition gains momentum , fleets , energy providers , and policymakers will need to work together to ensure Australia ’ s EV charging infrastructure keeps up with demand .
ISSUE 51 FEBRUARY 2025 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 9