Welcome to your Thursday briefing. It has been a scorching week on the eastern seaboard, and the EV news cycle is running just as hot. As we race toward the end of 2025, the Australian electric vehicle landscape is shifting gears from “early adoption” to “infrastructure explosion.”

This week, we’ve seen the NSW government double down on fixing regional blackspots, Tesla finally conquering the Top End, and a stark reminder that the clock is ticking on one of the country’s biggest tax loopholes.

Here is everything you need to know this week to keep your finger on the pulse of the Australian EV market.

🔌 NSW Government Drops $39M to Fix “Charger Deserts”

If you’ve ever sweated through a range-anxiety moment in Western NSW, this is the news you’ve been waiting for.

The NSW Government has officially opened applications for Round 4 of the EV Fast Charging Grants. This isn’t just about adding more plugs to Sydney shopping centres; this round is laser-focused on the “too hard basket”—the remote and regional routes that private operators usually ignore.

• The Cash: A massive $39 million funding pool.
• The Target: Over 100 new fast-charging sites across 104 designated zones. Crucially, 73 of these zones are in remote and regional NSW.
• The Tech: Grants require a minimum of 3 bays per site, pushing operators away from those unreliable single-stall chargers that cause queuing nightmares during school holidays.

EV Evolution Take: This is the “infill” phase we needed. By 2027, the “Charger Desert” map of NSW will look significantly greener, finally unlocking the outback for standard-range EVs.

⚡ Tesla Conquers the Top End & V4 Expansion

Tesla has officially planted its flag in the final frontier.

This week, keen-eyed spotters confirmed that Darwin is finally getting its first official Supercharger site. Located near the Darwin International Airport, this site closes one of the last major gaps in the national network and signals the beginning of a viable “Electric Highway 1” loop around the entire continent.

In parallel, we are seeing more V4 Supercharger hardware rolling out across the East Coast. These new stalls come with:

• Longer Cables: Solving the “parking gymnastics” required for non-Tesla EVs with weird charge port locations.
• Credit Card Readers: A requirement for federal funding, making them true “tap and go” terminals for any EV driver, app or no app.

⏳ The 3-Month Warning: PHEV FBT Deadline

We cannot stress this enough: The clock is ticking.

We are now less than four months away from the April 1, 2026 cutoff for the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Fringe Benefits Tax exemption.

The Reality Check:

If you want to lease a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BYD Sealion 6, or Mazda CX-60 PHEV tax-free, you need a financially binding commitment before April 1.

• Current Status: Dealerships are already reporting stock tightening on popular colours.
• The Risk: If you order in late February and the boat is delayed until April 2, you lose the exemption. That could cost you $15,000+ over the life of the lease.

If you are sitting on the fence, it is time to jump.

🚙 Spotted: Kia EV4 Testing Locally?

Rumour mills went into overdrive this week with camouflaged sedans spotted in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, strongly resembling the Kia EV4.

With the official launch slated for H2 2026, seeing local testing mules this early is a promising sign. It suggests Kia Australia is serious about its local suspension tuning program, ensuring the EV4 handles our potholes better than the global-spec Tesla Model 3.

🤖 Missed the News? Ask the AI.

The news cycle moves fast, and keeping track of grant rounds, tax deadlines, and model leaks is a full-time job.

Don’t scroll for hours—just ask.

We have fed this week’s entire news digest into the EV Evolution AI Chatbot. It can summarise the headlines, check if your suburb is on the new NSW grant list, or calculate your PHEV savings before the deadline hits.

Start the conversation:

• “Summarise the top 3 EV news stories from this week.”
• “Is Broken Hill included in the Round 4 NSW charging grants?”
• “What is the exact date the PHEV tax exemption ends?”

About EV Evolution

EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.