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Move with an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Electric vehicles (EVs) run using batteries instead of diesel or unleaded petrol and produce no direct greenhouse gas emissions. If 100% renewable electricity is used to recharge the battery, these vehicles have zero on-road emissions.

Even if they use grid electricity in Victoria, their lifecycle emissions are 20% lower than those of an average fossil-fuelled vehicle. This situation will continue to improve as the percentage of renewables feeding into the grid increases. EVs are becoming increasingly common and charging infrastructure continues to increase across the country.

Hybrid vehicles use both batteries and fossil fuel. They are fuelled with diesel or unleaded petrol, but they also have a battery that charges when the vehicle brakes. As a result they are very fuel-efficient, around 4.5 L/100km.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also use both batteries and fossil fuel, but their battery can be topped up by plugging into a charger.  PHEVs are a half-way house, but when powered by fossil fuels they can be fuel-inefficient.

EV’s in Merri-bek

Merri-bek is a leader in encouraging the uptake of zero emissions vehicles and the promotion of zero emissions transportation.

Merri-bek installed Victoria’s first EV fast charge station in 2013, has trialled hydrogen vehicles in our fleet, and manages a Council fleet of 28 EVs as well as 6 electric bicycles and one e-cargo bike.

Council now manages a network of 29 public EV charging bays, accessible through the Chargefox app. Electricity at all Council chargers is 100% renewable power from the Crowlands Wind Farm.

Where can I find an EV charging station?

  • Merri-bek Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
  • Russell St carpark (near Coburg Leisure Centre), Coburg
  • Boundary Road, corner of Boundary Road and Sydney Road, Coburg North
  • Glenroy Community Hub, Wheatsheaf Rd, Glenroy
  • Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre, 563a Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vale
  • CB Smith Reserve, Jukes Road, Fawkner
  • Brunswick Mechanics Institute, David Street carpark, Brunswick
  • Edward St carpark, Edward Street, Brunswick
  • Fleming Park, Cross St, Brunswick East
  • Davies Street, Brunswick
  • Wilson Avenue, Brunswick

Council’s slow chargers have a fee of 25c/kWh, and our fast chargers have a fee of 45c/kWh.

These fees were introduced to help fund the installation, replacement and maintenance of Council-owned chargers, to discourage over-stays and to ensure Council chargers are not out-competing private sector chargers. Council has opened discussions with charging operators to increase the number of chargers in Merri-bek to cater for future demand.

Other public chargers also exist in Merri-bek, and can be viewed through the PlugShare website and app.

Electric bike charging

Electric bike recharging is also available at the Merri-bek Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg.