The recent Telstra outage, which left thousands of Australians without phone service and disrupted public transportation, has sparked a crucial conversation about the reliability of our digital infrastructure, especially for electric vehicle (EV) owners. This incident, which affected the largest public EV charging network, Chargefox, and its partnerships with NRMA, RACV, and Woolworths, highlights the need for stricter regulations and standards in the EV charging industry.
The AEVA's vice president, Jo Oddie, emphasizes the importance of ensuring that public EV chargers have clear fallback pathways when connectivity drops. This is particularly critical for government-funded chargers, where multiple carriers or robust connectivity design should be considered. In the event of a connection loss, chargers should default to providing a free charge to prevent EV owners from being stranded in remote areas with limited alternatives.
The Telstra outage also brought to light the vulnerabilities of tap-and-go payment systems at charging stations. The AEVA suggests implementing systems that queue authorized payments until a new connection is established, ensuring that drivers can never be left without a way to pay for their charges. This is especially important given the rising popularity of EVs, with almost half of Australians now considering hybrid or electric vehicles for their next purchase.
The recent surge in EV sales, with electric vehicles accounting for 23.3% of new-vehicle sales in June 2026, and the Tesla Model Y being the best-selling vehicle across all fuel types, underscores the need for a robust and reliable charging infrastructure. The November 2023 Optus outage, which limited access to some Evie Networks charging stations, serves as a reminder of the potential disruptions that can occur when relying on a single carrier.
In my opinion, the Telstra outage is a wake-up call for the industry, emphasizing the importance of investing in resilient connectivity solutions. As the world becomes increasingly connected, ensuring that our digital infrastructure can withstand disruptions is vital for the smooth operation of essential services, including public transportation and EV charging. The AEVA's calls for higher regulatory standards are not just a suggestion but a necessary step towards a more reliable and user-friendly EV charging experience for all Australians.
