Australian-made charging technology manufactured by NHP will support a $7.4 million national program aimed at expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging access in apartment buildings, according to Alchemy Charge.
In a media release, the company said it has secured $2 million in co-funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for its Strata Assist program, which combines locally manufactured SmartPoint charging hardware, cloud-based load management and a digital platform to help apartment communities navigate charging installations and approval processes.
The program aims to address barriers associated with strata approvals, installation requirements and costs. Alchemy Charge cited research from the UNSW City Futures Research Centre estimating that around 4.1 million Australians, or about 15 per cent of the population, live in strata properties.
The company noted that SmartPoint uses individually metered smart power sockets supported by cloud-based load management to manage charging demand within a building’s assessed electrical capacity.
According to Alchemy Charge, the technology may reduce the need for costly main switchboard upgrades where site conditions allow, although installations remain subject to electrical assessment and design.
Alchemy Charge CEO Yasemin Selvi said the program was designed to help residents and building managers understand their options for installing home charging.
“People shouldn’t have to become experts in strata processes or electrical infrastructure just to work out whether they can charge an electric car at home,” Selvi said.
The standalone Strata Assist digital platform is scheduled to launch on 1 February 2027. It will bring information, communication, quoting and approval workflows into a shared process for residents, landlords, strata managers and owners corporations.
Origin Energy will act as the charge point operator for participating buildings, integrating SmartPoints and supported Level 2 chargers with its Origin 360 EV Charge Platform. Climate Salad is also a program partner.
The initiative will also collect and share findings on charging costs, governance barriers and installation approaches to inform future decisions by strata managers, installers, charging operators and policymakers.
Selvi said the program would help apartment communities assess their options and make use of existing infrastructure where possible.
The project has received ARENA funding through its Driving the Nation Program.
