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Let’s be honest for a second. Walking into a boardroom and pitching a shiny new EV charging network is the fun part. You get to talk about "electrification", "ESG targets" and "future-proofing". But here is the cold, hard truth that most sales decks conveniently leave out: buying the charger is the easy part.
Australia now has thousands of public charging points, yet reliability remains the industry’s dirty little secret. We have all seen the headlines (or experienced the rage) of pulling up to a station only to find a blank screen or a connector that won't lock.
Finding the right distributor – one that offers local support, parts availability and hardware that can survive a savage Australian summer – is critical. But it is just step one. Whether you are a fleet manager in Western Sydney or a property developer in Brisbane, you aren't just buying a white box; you are entering a 10-year marriage with that asset.
Below, we break down the Top 7 heavyweights controlling the Australian grid right now. These are the folks who supply the gear. (But keep reading to the end to find out who helps you actually keep it running).
Why they made the list: You can't talk about the Australian EV landscape without mentioning JET Charge. They aren't just a distributor; they are effectively the "operating system" for hardware installation in this country. They have secured their position as the national installation partner for major OEMs including Tesla, Volvo, Porsche, Audi and Hyundai. If you buy a high-end EV in Australia, chances are a JET Charge technician is the one drilling holes in your garage wall.
These guys are pioneering vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. They led the South Australian trials with Mitsubishi and Wallbox, testing technology that allows your car to send power back to the grid during peak times. It’s like turning your parked car into a mini power plant.
Why they made the list: EVSE Australia has carved out a massive chunk of the market by focusing aggressively on the "commercial" and "public" sectors. While others fought over home garages, EVSE went after councils, shopping centers and strata bodies. They are the primary master distributor for the Ocular brand, which you have likely seen popping up in public parking lots everywhere.
They were one of the first to market with "solar aware" charging modes across their commercial range. Their chargers can be set to "solar only" mode, ensuring that a fleet vehicle only charges when the sun is shining, minimizing grid costs to near zero.
Why they made the list: NHP isn't a startup born in a garage; they are a 50-year-old industrial titan. In the electrical world, NHP is synonymous with "switchgear" and "industrial automation". They bring that same mining-grade reliability mindset to EV charging through their exclusive partnership with Delta.
NHP offers local assembly and customization capabilities right here in Australia. While many competitors are stuck waiting for shipments from overseas, NHP can often modify and dispatch from their local warehouses, which is a lifesaver when you are on a tight construction deadline.
Why they made the list: Known affectionately to every sparkie (electrician) in the country as "L&H", Sonepar is the sleeping giant of EV distribution. With hundreds of branches nationwide, they win on accessibility. They are the most accessible wholesaler for local contractors who need parts now.
Sonepar is the world’s largest B2B distributor of electrical products. This global scale gives them massive buying power, allowing them to secure stock during global chip shortages when smaller boutique distributors run dry.
Why they made the list: Rexel isn't just moving boxes; they have built a dedicated division called Rexel Energy Solutions (RES). They have positioned themselves as technical partners rather than just wholesalers, helping contractors navigate the complex world of grants, incentives, and load management design.
Rexel offers specialized training for installers. They don't just sell you the charger; they will train your team on how to commission it, which is often the step where things go wrong.
Why they made the list: If Sonepar is the global giant, Middy's is the Aussie icon. As Australia’s largest family-owned electrical wholesaler, they have a massive footprint in regional areas. Their TechEnergy division is surprisingly sophisticated, offering deep technical support for integrators.
Middy's TechEnergy division doesn't just do sales; they run a full "Integration" service where they can help design the entire electrical ecosystem of a building, from lighting to EV charging.
Why they made the list: Solar Juice is the bridge between the roof and the garage. As Australia's largest distributor of solar PV systems, they are the natural choice for installers who are bundling solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers into a single quote.
They are owned by SPI Energy, a global renewable giant. This gives them unique access to Asian manufacturing innovations and supply chains that often move faster than traditional European/US competitors.
Before you sign that purchase order, let's clear up a common confusion that trips up even seasoned facility managers.
Most people spend 90% of their energy choosing the distributor and 10% thinking about operations. That ratio is a recipe for disaster.
Selecting a distributor is a critical procurement decision, but it is only the first step in a long operational lifecycle. Whether you choose a ruggedized unit from NHP or a sleek commercial pillar from EVSE Australia, every asset faces the same inevitable reality: hardware degrades.
In the current landscape, we observe a distinct "maintenance gap" between the deployment of chargers and the maturity of the operations supporting them. While charge point management systems (CPMS) are excellent at handling payments and load balancing, they are historically poor at the logistics of physical repair.
A CPMS can detect an "Error 404: Connector Lock Failure," but it cannot automatically dispatch a technician with the correct high-voltage certification or verify that the replacement cable is in their van stock.
FieldEx is the Operating System for the Energy Transition. It does not replace your CPMS or your hardware distributor; but bridges the gap between Detection (IoT/Alerts) and Resolution (Boots on the ground).
For asset managers and CPOs building a resilient network, FieldEx consolidates the "execution layer" to ensure:
Don’t just install infrastructure. Ensure it actually works.
Australia is racing toward an electrified future, and the distributors listed above are providing the essential hardware to get us there. Whether you need the turnkey sophistication of JET Charge or the industrial grit of NHP, the market has never had better options.
But remember: a charger that doesn't work is just an expensive lawn ornament. As you plan your rollout, think beyond the install. Think about the technician who needs to fix it in the rain three years from now. Give them the right tools, and your grid will stay green.
Ready to close the maintenance gap? Book a free FieldEx demo today, or simply get in touch. We're here to help.
A distributor (like NHP or EVSE Australia) sells the physical charging hardware. A Charge Point Operator (CPO) like Chargefox or Evie Networks manages the software, billing, and public access to those chargers.
Most major distributors like NHP (Delta) and JET Charge (Kempower/Tritium units) offer "Ultra-Rapid" DC chargers capable of speeds up to 350kW or more, though these are typically for highway sites, not office buildings.
Generally, yes. To get charging speeds of 11kW or 22kW (standard for commercial AC charging), your building needs a three-phase electrical connection. Single-phase is usually limited to 7kW, which is slower.
Physically, yes. However, managing them can be a headache if they use different software portals. This is why using an "Operating System" layer like FieldEx is smart – it consolidates maintenance for mixed portfolios into one view.
OCPP stands for "Open Charge Point Protocol." It is the universal language that allows your charger to talk to different software backends. Never buy a commercial charger that isn't OCPP compliant, or you will be locked into one vendor forever.
Hardware prices vary wildly. A basic 7kW AC commercial unit might start around $2,000 AUD, while a fast 50kW DC unit can easily exceed $30,000 AUD, plus installation costs (which can double the price).
Typically, the owner of the charger (the site host) is responsible. You can hire the distributor to do it, or use a third-party electrical contractor. Managing these work orders is exactly what FieldEx handles.
It is a system that limits the total power going to chargers so you don't blow the main fuse of your building. For example, if 10 cars plug in, the system might slow them all down to ensure the lights stay on.
It's a mix. JET Charge, EVSE Australia, and Middy's are Australian-founded/owned. Sonepar and Rexel are global giants (French), and Solar Juice is part of a global group, though they all have significant local operations.
Surprisingly, it's often not the battery or power electronics – it's the simple stuff. Broken connector latches, SIM card/network failures, or vandalism. Regular preventive maintenance checks are the only way to catch these early.
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