Electric car charging firm ChargePoint will shut down its network of almost 50 stations in a major blow to Anthony Albanese’s plan to turn green.
The US-owned company confirmed in an email to company members that it would shut down its charging stations in NSW, Victoria and Queensland from February 1.
ChargePoint told its customers it will ‘no longer maintain a presence in ‘ and would cease operations of its 46 charging ports.
Electric vehicle owners have until the end of January to use the charging stations – which can only be accessed with a credit or ChargePoint card – despite the brand’s app no longer working.
US-owned firm ChargePoint (pictured) will shut down its entire network of stations in from February 1
ChargePoint told its customers it will ‘no longer maintain a presence in ‘, and would cease operations of its 46 charging ports in NSW, Victoria and Queensland
ChargePoint installed its first EV station in in 2010 and expanded across the country’s east coast as popularity of electric cars rose among motorists.
However, in 2020 the brand stopped maintaining its charging ports in , with its network of stations operating via remote support from the US.
ChargePoint claimed it would shut down its charging ports in May, last year, after its local and US divisions split.
However, it took an additional seven months for the company to finalise its exit from the n market.
The move comes after ChargePoint announced it would be firing 12 per cent of its global workforce.
The Californian-based company share price reached a peak of $US46.10 in late 2020 but is now sitting at an all-time low of $US2.
Customers who have remaining credit on their accounts after February 1 will be refunded their full amount.
Electric vehicle owners have until the end of January to use the charging stations, while customers who have credit remaining on their accounts after February 1 will be refunded
It comes after n EV charging company Tritium closed its doors on its local factory before Christmas, leaving the jobs of up to 400 workers uncertain.
The troubled fast-charging firm announced the closure at the company’s annual general meeting that it would shut Murrarie, Brisbane factory on December 22.
Tritium confirmed it would consolidate manufacturing operations at its Tennesse base in the US in a desperate bid to save money after its share price plummeted 98 per cent.
The company will keep a research and development business in Brisbane and has claimed only 75 workers will be laid off when the factory shuts, but did not disclose if there will be further rounds of redundancies.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the factory in March, last year, to publicise it as a shining example of his advanced green manufacturing ambitions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visitingTritium in March 2023 (pictured), before the factory shut its doors in December due to high costs
The Prime Minister labelled the achievements of the Aussie start-up, founded in 2001, as ‘extraordinary’.
‘This company has grown in a very short period of time to operate in 42 different countries,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘This is my third visit to Tritium. Every time I come back, I hear about more revenue, more jobs being created, and more countries where is exporting to.
‘This is a great success story here… and the capacity that they have to grow further is just extraordinary.’
The federal government refused to step in with a rescue package for Tritium despite the importance of chargers for the increased take-up of electric vehicles.
Tritium submitted an application to the government’s National Reconstruction Fund, which aims to rebuild ’s industrial base, but was reportedly rejected.
The $15 billion fund was created to provide loans, guarantees, and equity for projects to create secure, well-paid jobs and drive regional development.
However, Tritium failed to secure new funding to safeguard their factory’s future and was forced to shut its doors.