Construction has commenced on a new fast-charging network designed specifically for heavy vehicles, marking a significant step in the development of Australia’s electric truck infrastructure.
Energy and infrastructure company NewVolt confirmed it is building Stage 1 of the NewVolt Network — a three-hub, open-access fast-charging network located across Melbourne’s major freight precincts. The announcement coincides with confirmation of $25.3 million in co-funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Driving the Nation program.
Civil works are already under way at the first site in Laverton North, with the initial charging bays expected to be operational in late 2026 and the full Stage 1 rollout completed through 2027.
Three hubs planned across Melbourne freight corridors
Stage 1 of the network will deliver three strategically located charging hubs in Melbourne’s west (Laverton North), north (Campbellfield/Somerton), and south-east (Dandenong South). The locations were selected to align with the city’s key freight and logistics zones and will offer open-access fast charging to both contracted fleet customers and other operators.
Each hub is designed specifically for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, providing scheduled charging with power outputs of up to 400kW per bay using dual-plug capability. The company is also investigating the integration of Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) technology from the outset, positioning the sites to support higher-capacity electric trucks as the market evolves.
Anthony Headlam, CEO and Co-Founder of NewVolt, said the project is focused on delivering practical infrastructure rather than long-term planning alone.
“Australians are suddenly very aware of our energy insecurity and the pain we feel from dependence on imported energy. Australia has the renewable energy resource, and now the trucks, to remove that dependence,” said Headlam.
Targeting cost barriers to electric truck adoption
Alongside the physical infrastructure, part of the ARENA funding will be used to address one of the most commonly cited barriers to electrification — the upfront cost of vehicles.
Approximately $10 million of the co-funding package is earmarked to help bridge the total cost of ownership gap between electric trucks and diesel equivalents for early-adopting fleets. The project is also expected to support the deployment of between 50 and 100 electric trucks operating across greater Melbourne.
NewVolt is also developing a bundled commercial model combining vehicle access and charging credits, aimed particularly at smaller and mid-sized operators that may lack the capital capacity to invest in both trucks and infrastructure simultaneously.
Headlam said the availability of reliable charging and predictable operating costs is becoming central to fleet decision-making.
“The trucks are available. The business case keeps getting better. What operators have needed is a network they can rely on, and a commercial model that works for them so they can start their transition confidently,” he said.
A staged pathway to a national network
The Melbourne rollout represents the first phase of a longer-term plan to develop a national heavy vehicle charging network. NewVolt has identified more than 60 potential sites across major freight corridors, including Sydney, Brisbane, and key interstate routes such as the Hume Highway.
The planned timeline includes:
- 14 sites by 2027
- 40 sites by 2032
- More than 60 sites by 2040
The staged approach is designed to align infrastructure investment with the pace of electric truck adoption, allowing capacity to expand alongside fleet demand.
The project also reflects a broader shift in the heavy vehicle sector toward electrification, supported by improvements in vehicle availability, charging technology, and operating economics. While the transition remains gradual, infrastructure development such as this is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for large-scale adoption.
