Knowing which plug your car uses is only half the picture — the other half is which company actually runs the charger you pull up to. Australia has several separate public charging networks, each with its own app, account and pricing, and unlike petrol stations they are not always interchangeable. Here is what to know about the main ones before you plan a trip around them.
Why the Network Matters, Not Just the Plug
FueVolt's EV charging finder shows you where chargers are, their connector type and their power rating, but two chargers with the same plug can still require completely different apps or cards to actually start a session. Some networks are pay-as-you-go with a card tap, some need an app and an account set up in advance, and a few offer membership tiers with a lower per-kWh rate in exchange for a subscription. Before a long trip, it is worth having accounts ready on more than one network rather than assuming you can sign up on the spot at a rest stop with patchy phone reception.
Chargefox
Chargefox operates one of the larger public fast and ultra-rapid DC charging networks in Australia, with sites along major highway corridors as well as in cities. It uses an app and an RFID card option, and offers a paid membership tier alongside pay-as-you-go pricing — the membership tends to make sense for drivers who charge on the Chargefox network regularly, less so for occasional trips.
Evie Networks
Evie Networks runs DC fast chargers at retail and service locations in many capital cities and along key routes. Like Chargefox, it is app-based with tap-and-go card support at many sites, aimed at keeping a charging stop closer to a normal servo experience than a sign-up process.
Ampol AmpCharge
Ampol has been rolling out its own AmpCharge DC fast chargers at a growing number of Ampol service stations, putting EV charging on the same forecourt as fuel bowsers. This is a useful option if you are already stopping at an Ampol site, though coverage is still concentrated at specific rolled-out locations rather than every Ampol station.
Tesla Supercharger
Tesla's Supercharger network was originally Tesla-only, but a growing number of Australian Supercharger sites have opened up to other EV brands via the Tesla app, not just Tesla vehicles. Availability varies by site — some locations remain Tesla-only — so if you are not driving a Tesla, check whether a specific Supercharger site accepts non-Tesla vehicles before relying on it for a trip, rather than assuming every site does.
NRMA, BP Pulse and Others
The NRMA has invested in charging infrastructure, particularly along regional NSW routes, as part of its broader road-trip and member services. BP has its own BP Pulse charging brand appearing at some BP sites. Pricing and access conditions on these (and other smaller regional or council-run networks) change over time and can differ for members versus non-members, so check current terms in each network's own app rather than relying on older pricing you may have seen.
What to Actually Check Before You Rely on a Network
- App or card, and do you already have an account? Setting up a new account with patchy reception at a remote charger is a bad time to discover you need to verify an email first.
- Is the site actually open access, or restricted to a specific brand or membership tier?
- Current pricing — per-kWh rates and membership pricing change and vary by operator and site, so check the operator's own app for what a session will actually cost rather than an old screenshot or forum post.
- Backup options nearby. On regional routes especially, have a second network or a slower AC charger in mind in case your first choice is out of order or occupied — public chargers do go offline, and unlike a fuel bowser there is rarely a second one right next door.
Planning a Trip Across Multiple Networks
Longer routes, especially interstate, often cross the coverage areas of more than one network. Rather than committing to a single provider, download the apps for the two or three networks you are likely to pass and set up payment on each before you leave. FueVolt's trip planner can help you map out charging stops along a specific route, but it does not show live bay availability or which account you will need at each stop — that is still worth checking site-by-site for a trip you are relying on.