Charging Past FUD: Chargefox CEO Shares Growth Stats

Chargefox CEO John Sullivan has responded to recent negative press about the EV industry in Australia, using Chargefox's data to counter narratives of industry decline, presenting a picture of strong growth and long-term potential.

▶️MORE: Best EV charging networks in Australia

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Image by - Neerav Bhatt

Zecar Analysis

Sullivan's comparison to the transition from horses to automobiles is a great analogy, highlighting that major technological shifts often face scepticism and setbacks but ultimately prevail.

This historical perspective helps to frame current challenges as expected growing pains rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Sullivan's emphasis on data offers concrete evidence of growth to counteract more speculative or anecdotal claims about the Australian EV industry's health.

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The following is an open letter on the EV sector from Chargefox CEO John Sullivan

As the platform facilitating the most EV charging sessions in Australia, we are witnessing significant growth in charging activity from both private drivers and fleet operators.

170,000 drivers are using Chargefox to charge their car every month, compared to 100,000 this time last year - that’s 70% growth! This surge in usage highlights a robust and expanding interest in electric vehicles across the country, despite any short-term market fluctuations.

The increasing adoption of EVs is evident. This trend is only set to accelerate with the recent and future arrivals of many new EVs to the Australian market, from brands including Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Zeekr and Cadillac. The investment from these brands is a testament to the global confidence in the future of electric mobility.

Despite this growth, some organisations in the EV sector, including Tritium, EVIE, and Tesla, have faced well-publicised challenges. All new industries, including ours, go through phases of growth, fragmentation, consolidation, and specialisation.

Chargefox went through a phase of consolidation last year when we were bought by the Mobility Clubs of Australia and refocused on exclusively providing software services to support other organisations in managing their chargers and electrifying their fleets.

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These cycles are natural and necessary for long-term stability and success. While some may interpret the sector’s current challenges as signs of a downturn, we see them as part of the industry's evolution.

The transition to electric vehicles is not just a fleeting trend but a once-in-a-century transformative shift in how people and goods get from A to B.

A similar thing happened when the world moved from horse and cart to automobile. New companies emerged, each with its own products, services, and strategies - some failed, many more survived and ultimately thrived.

When considering investing in The Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford’s lawyer was once told by a bank president, “The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty - a fad.” In the face of change, there are always those who cling to the past. Some do so because change can be uncomfortable, others because they stand to benefit from slowing progress.

Legacy interests and some media outlets have made a sport of spreading FUD — fear, uncertainty, and doubt - about the EV sector, as EVIE CEO Chris Mills pointed out recently when addressing the news that 30 staff had been made redundant. These efforts to undermine confidence in electric vehicles are not new, and they won’t be the last. EVs will become the dominant vehicle of choice, Australia is just at the start of that transition, and it's a bit of a bumpy ride!

At Chargefox, we remain undeterred. Not because we are zealots or fanatics, but because we see the actual data — the cold, undeniable, objective evidence demonstrating what is actually happening.
(We love data at Chargefox!)

• Chargefox hosts more than 170,000 charging sessions monthly, compared to 100,000 last year.
• In 2023, Chargefox added an average of 93 public charging plugs per month, up from 18 per month in 2022.
• Every month, over 3000 users charge on Chargefox for the first time.
• Businesses are joining in, with over 3,000 fleet vehicles added to Chargefox in 2024.

This chart shows the growth of Public and Private plugs on the Chargefox platform since January 2021.

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We are focused on the bigger picture and committed to driving forward, regardless of the noise.

We relish our position in helping organisations manage their EV chargers, supporting businesses and governments in electrifying their fleets, and, most importantly, helping more than 170,000 drivers charge their vehicles every month.

We are actively investing in expanding our infrastructure, enhancing the speed and reliability of our services, and exploring new technologies to make EV charging more convenient than ever.

To all EV drivers across Australia: your choice to drive electric is the true power behind this critical transition. To our partners and stakeholders: I assure you that Chargefox is well prepared to navigate this period of change and emerge stronger.

The road to a fully electrified future has some speed humps, but the destination is clear.

Sincerely,

John Sullivan
CEO, Chargefox

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Image by - Neerav Bhatt