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https://thedriven.io/2026/05/15/community-group-launches-new-neighbourhood-battery-with-ev-charging-bays/>
"Melbourne not-for-profit Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) has celebrated the
launch of its latest neighbourhood battery, but with a twist, as the new
battery in inner-city Clifton Hill features two EV charging bays.
The new neighbourhood battery is the second YEF has launched, with another four
already in various stages of development.
Backed by a $750,000 grant from the Victorian government through the
Neighbourhood Battery Initiative, the new battery is located outside the
Collingwood Leisure Centre in Clifton Hill, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne,
and features two wheelchair accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging bays.
The addition of the two charging bays makes the battery the first dedicated
front-of-meter neighbourhood battery designed to harmonise with public EV
charging in inner-Melbourne.
Now operational, the battery will trial how battery storage and EVs can operate
together to reduce demand on the electricity grid, as well as aim to encourage
charging when solar generation is highest.
“We’ve seen EV charging add enormous demand to our grid, which is why new
innovative solutions need to be tried to alleviate the pressure and prevent
unnecessary network upgrades only to handle peaks,” said Dean Kline, YEF CEO.
The two 60kW EV charging bays feature lower-than-average height and wider
parking spaces to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, and parking
signage that has been designed in consultation with local residents to match
local use preferences.
“Public EV charging infrastructure should be accessible for everyone, and
especially in suburbs where many people can’t charge at home – public
infrastructure like this can be critical to switching to an EV,” said Kline.
In addition to the new Clifton Hill neighbourhood battery, YEF also launched
the Fitzroy North community battery back in June 2022. The organisation is also
developing batteries for Richmond, Altona, Manor Lakes, and Torquay."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
