Council considers Tesla charging station

Published on 03 February 2023

Benalla Rural City Council has announced plans to bring an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station to Benalla and is seeking community feedback on the idea.

Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn, said the Council had been working with several suppliers over the past six months to deliver an EV charging station in Benalla.

“The proposal from Tesla is to lease a Council owned section of the Smythe Street Carpark next to Woolworths.

“The first phase of the project would see 10 EV chargers installed, with 10 more to be delivered as demand increases.

“The project would be entirely funded, constructed and run by Tesla,” Cr Hearn said.

Under the proposal received by the Council the lease would be for five years with two five year options to extend.

“The EV chargers would be a unique asset to the community and provide an economic boost to local businesses,” Cr Hearn said.

“This project allows the Council to provide both an economic and sustainability boost to the municipality without any capital or operational expenditure.

“Benalla’s location also makes it an ideal location for EV drivers to stop and recharge.”

The proposed Tesla V3 superchargers will have the capacity to charge at 250 kilowatts, with charging time to average around 25-30 minutes. This charging station will be included in Tesla's non-Tesla Supercharger pilot which will allow access to non-Tesla EV vehicles.

Other infrastructure included in the development include a 2/2.5 Mega Volt-Amp transformer and seven cabinets to support power supply to the chargers.

The project promotes more sustainable transport options and demonstrates to the community that the Council will support environmentally friendly projects and is a positive step towards the Council Plan 2021-2025 strategy for encouraging ‘Sustainable Practices’.

Council is asking for feedback from the community via haveyoursay.benalla.vic.gov.au or by calling Customer Service on 03 5760 2600.