The conversation around electric vehicles in Australia has shifted. It is no longer really about whether EVs are coming. They are here. What people are asking now is whether the infrastructure around them is keeping up. And based on what has been happening in the industry over the past twelve months, the answer is starting to look a lot more promising than it did even a couple of years ago.

As someone who has been working in the solar and energy space since 2009, I have watched the EV conversation evolve from curiosity to genuine household planning. The news coming out right now gives me reason to feel optimistic about where things are heading, and I think it is worth unpacking what it actually means for South Australian homeowners and businesses considering their next energy move.

The Public Network Is Catching Up

A recent report from Drive.com.au highlighted that Australia's number of public EV charging plugs increased by roughly 25% between 2024 and 2025. That is meaningful growth in a single year. It also points to the challenge still ahead, with Australia described as having one of the lowest ratios of public chargers to EVs on the road among comparable markets.

So yes, progress is real. But the gap between the number of EVs on the road and the number of reliable public chargers is still a genuine concern for many drivers, particularly those doing longer runs between regional centres. This is exactly why the home charging conversation matters so much right now. If you can charge overnight at home using your own solar energy, the gaps in the public network become far less of a daily frustration.

Ampol and Evie Networks. What That Deal Signals

The biggest industry move worth paying attention to is Ampol's acquisition of Evie Networks for $225 million, as reported by Zecar. The deal creates a 1,425 bay EV fast charging network under one of Australia's most recognised fuel brands.

Read that again. A traditional petrol company just spent $225 million to own a major EV charging network. That is not a company hedging its bets. That is a company that has looked at the trajectory of transport energy and made a very large, very deliberate decision about where the future is going.

For everyday South Australians thinking about buying an EV, this kind of investment is a signal worth noticing. The major players are committing. Infrastructure is scaling. The era of wondering whether charging will be available when you need it is gradually giving way to something more reliable.

That said, fast public chargers on highways are not the same thing as affordable, convenient everyday charging. For most EV owners, the bulk of charging still happens at home, and that is where your solar system becomes one of the smartest assets you own.

Home Charging and Solar. The Combination That Makes Real Sense

The most common situation we see with customers thinking about an EV is this. they already have solar, or they are planning to get it, and they want to understand how an EV charger fits into that picture. The answer, in almost every case, is that it fits very well.

A home EV charger connected to a solar system means you can charge your vehicle using energy generated on your own roof. When you pair that with a battery storage system, you can store solar energy generated during the day and use it to charge your car overnight, when the car is actually sitting in the driveway. That kind of setup dramatically reduces what you are drawing from the grid and, depending on your usage patterns and system setup, can make a meaningful difference to your overall energy costs.

We design and install exactly this kind of integrated setup for homes across South Australia. It is not complicated when it is done properly from the start, but it does require thinking about all the components together rather than bolting things on one at a time and hoping they work well together.

The Solar Carpark Model Is Also Worth Watching

There is another development worth mentioning for business owners. A report out of the ACT describes government carparks being fitted with rooftop solar canopies combined with EV chargers. The Territory is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers to deliver this kind of infrastructure across public carparks.

This model is not new in concept, but seeing government facilities move toward it at scale signals where commercial and public property is heading. For South Australian businesses with carparks, this is worth thinking about seriously. A solar canopy over your carpark does two things at once. It generates energy for your business and offers EV charging to staff, customers or fleet vehicles. It is a practical, visible demonstration of your energy position that also delivers ongoing operational value.

We work with commercial clients across South Australia on exactly this kind of system design. The interest from the business community has been growing steadily, and the infrastructure investment being made nationally is only going to make the conversation more relevant.

What SA Homeowners and Businesses Should Actually Do Right Now

If you are sitting on the fence about an EV, a home charger, or a solar and battery setup, here is my honest take after more than fifteen years in this industry. The direction of travel is clear. Energy is becoming more decentralised, more connected to transport, and more reliant on what is generated at home or on site rather than what is pulled from the grid.

South Australia is already one of the most solar capable states in the country. Our rooftops generate extraordinary amounts of energy on good days, and our grid has had to adapt to accommodate it. Adding an EV and a home charger into that picture is a natural next step for a lot of households, and it becomes even more compelling when a battery is part of the system.

The best electric vehicles for solar owners in Australia in 2026, according to Energy Matters, are increasingly those with vehicle to home or vehicle to grid capability, which means your car can actually contribute energy back to your home during peak periods. That level of integration between transport and home energy is where things are heading, and it is worth getting your home system ready for it sooner rather than later.

At Track Energy, we have been helping South Australian homes and businesses get the most from their solar since 2012, with more than 2,000 installations completed across the state. We are not here to sell you on anything you do not need. But if the industry signals right now are telling us anything, it is that homes with a well designed solar, battery and EV charging setup are going to be in a much stronger position over the next five to ten years than those still relying heavily on the grid.

Everything you need to own your energy is available right now. It is just a matter of putting the right system together for your home or business.

Get a free solar quote from Track Energy. Visit trackenergy.com.au or call 0416 533 628