Sydney-headquartered electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions group EVSE is set to expand its presence by more than 230 locations following the acquisition of the Australia and New Zealand EV charging network previously operated by French company ENGIE, for an undisclosed amount.

Affiliated with digital smart metering company Intellihub since its acquisition by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) in late 2023, EVSE has been rapidly expanding its national footprint.

Since its founding by Sam Korkees and Brendan Wheeler in 2014, the company has installed 15,000 chargers.

The agreement with ENGIE has immediately expanded EVSE's operations by adding high-traffic sites, including Chadstone - Australia's largest shopping centre, located in Victoria - Chatswood Chase in Sydney, and other strategic locations. These stations are equipped with DC chargers, which are capable of recharging EV batteries quickly, sometimes in as little as 30 minutes.

According to co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brendan Wheeler, EVSE already maintains a network of 4,200 charge points through the Exploren network.

One-third of these are designated for public use, while the remainder are installed in fleet depots, apartment buildings, office premises, and private residences across Australia and New Zealand.

This acquisition complements the existing network by adding over 230 high-powered DC charging locations and enables the integration of home, workplace, and on-the-go charging infrastructure in a seamless manner for customers and partners.

Wheeler stated that the Exploren charging network is the fastest-growing of its kind in Australia. With the addition of ENGIE's high-visibility locations, users will benefit from enhanced convenience and improved support.

The Exploren Charging Network simplifies access to public EV charging solutions by offering a unified payment interface applicable to sites nationwide.

This transaction represents a critical step towards delivering seamless charging accessibility across residential, commercial, and public domains.

The Australian EV market reached a new milestone in 2024, with the Electric Vehicle Council reporting sales of 91,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 23,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). This figure reflects a 16% year-on-year increase in combined EV sales.

According to the Council's Head of Policy, Legal and Advocacy, Aman Gaur, this continued growth demonstrates increasing consumer demand for cleaner and more affordable transport options.

The rise includes an increase in the proportion of BEVs within total EV sales, with fully electric models continuing to account for the majority.

The 2024 EV sales figures are considered encouraging, particularly in a year characterised by high interest rates and elevated living costs. It was also a period in which certain states prematurely withdrew critical incentives that might otherwise have supported further adoption.

Gaur emphasised that the expansion of charging infrastructure, the availability of a broader range of competitively priced models, and the continuation of key financial incentives have all contributed significantly to motivating the next wave of EV buyers.