Karmactive Team
Queues, broken plugs and angry drivers have given electric vehicle owners a new worry: rage anxiety. Ampol's A$225 million purchase of fast-charging operator Evie Networks would add chargers to its network. If you plan a long drive this summer, here is what it changes and what it doesn't.
Ampol has agreed to buy Evie Networks, a fast-charging operator, for A$225 million through a share sale agreement. Evie has 1,031 fast-charging bays, which would take Ampol's AmpCharge network to about 1,425 bays. Evie is backed by the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund, and Ampol announced the deal on October 1. The sale needs clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and is expected to complete in the first half of 2027. An Australian Financial Review report this week used "rage anxiety" for driver anger over charger queues and delays. It follows "range anxiety," the fear of running out of battery. In March, ABC reported that drivers in Western Australia had raised concerns about the state-owned charging network. News.com.au reported five-hour charging waits at Easter.
The sale is not expected to complete until the first half of 2027, and only if the ACCC clears it, so drivers heading out this summer should not count on any change from the deal. Before a long trip, install a roaming app such as PlugShare alongside the operator apps. Use it to check live charger uptime and plug speed, and leave outside peak travel times to avoid queues.
What the Price Tag Shows
Dividing the A$225 million price by Evie's 1,031 bays gives about A$218,000 per bay. That is only a rough figure, because the price buys the whole company, which is wider than the bays alone. Ampol has not said what the price covers beyond the bays, so any reading of the figure is inference. Australian EV market coverage
The Australian Government says transport is the second-largest source of Australia's emissions, at around 22%.
What is causing EV rage anxiety among Australian drivers? It is driver frustration over delays at public chargers. The AFR report points to queue jumpers and long waits. Earlier ABC reporting on "charger anxiety" also pointed to chargers that are out of order and long queues for the only working plug.
Ampol's A$225 million deal for Evie Networks adds 1,031 fast-charging bays to AmpCharge. It does not yet answer whether drivers will get one app or still need several. The ACCC's review and completion of the sale, expected in the first half of 2027, are next. Check back for updates.
