The infrastructure for charging electric vehicles (EVs) has arrived in Australia, and IPD now specifies, sells, and services chargers for a variety of applications.
Electric vehicles are the way of the future, and as Australia moves further into the electrified transportation world, electricians will play a critical role in laying out necessary infrastructure. IPD’s EV cha
rgers are ideal for commercial and residential applications across the country. We are the leading distributor for ABB’s Terra AC range of EV chargers, and with the recent acquisition of Gemtek, Western Australia’s leading EV charging and energy management specialist, we have a variety of solutions for any project that may require them.
In addition to the products, we provide a well-rounded service in the EV charging solution sector, which includes design, infrastructure upgrades, hardware, software, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
ABB’s Terra AC charging range is one of the most powerful wall boxes on the market today, complementing the company’s extensive portfolio of AC and DC chargers. It provides users with a superior EV home charger while also providing high-value quality, future-proof flexibility, and safety and protection advancements.
“IPD is proud to be the master distributor for ABB’s Terra AC range of EV chargers in Australia. These are available in 7.4kW, 11kW and 22kW and can be provided with either a Type 2 socket or a 5m Type 2 tethered lead,” IPD product manager Michael Morgan says.
“All models have an Ingress Protection rating of IP54, come with Bluetooth, WiFi, Modbus and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) connectivity capabilities as standard and boasts built-in load management software.”
The Terra chargers are among the safest on the market, with overcurrent, overvoltage/undervoltage, ground fault, surge protection, and protective earth continuity monitoring built in.
Michael also mentions that the company recently completed Western Australia’s first electric bus trial at the Joondalup Depot, collaborating with the Perth Transport Authority of WA, ABB, and Volvo to provide fast-charging infrastructure for the electric buses: “ABB’s Terra124 124kW high-power EV chargers (upgradeable to 184kw in future) will provide the bus depot overnight charging for its new Volvo electric buses. The project also includes 100kw of Solar, with a 302kwh BESS to support the chargers.”
“The chargers also include cloud connectivity, allowing network operators the option to remotely monitor and diagnose the charging infrastructure 24/7, maximising uptime, increasing efficiency, and ensuring reliable infrastructure for the depot.”
According to Michael, the chargers use combined charging system (CCS) connectivity and OCPP compliance. IPD can reduce the infrastructure footprint required to charge multiple buses by combining the charging and charging post, making it a valuable addition to compact installations such as bus depots where space is limited.
On the Gemtek side of IPD’s business, the acquisition gives them a specialist in EV charging and energy management: “We can now offer turnkey AC and DC charging solutions from design and infrastructure upgrades, through to installation and ongoing maintenance.”
Gemtek delivered Tritium 50kw and Delta 22kw DC EV chargers and technical services in January 2022, to retired engineer Jon Edwards, a passionate EV owner, for a sustainable transcontinental crossing, adding BiØfil charging systems across the Nullarbor Plain, allowing EV drivers to travel across the country. Jon’s project was funded by the University of Western Australia’s REVS Project, the Tesla Owners Club of Australia, the Tesla Owners Club of Western Australia, AEVA, the TeslaWA Slack group, and a chuff crowd-funding project.
BiØfil is a world-first off-grid, self-contained EV fast-charging system powered by used chip (vegetable) oil from roadhouse deep fryers. It became one of the world’s most remote EV chargers after being installed at the Caiguna Roadhouse, approximately 370 kilometers east of Norseman and 370 kilometers west of the South Australian border.
