Ampol, a major fuel company in Australia, has agreed to purchase Evie Networks for $225 million, acquiring more than 1000 charging bays and tripling Ampol’s existing AmpCharge network. The acquisition totals 1425 charging bays across over 400 sites, aligning with a surge in electric vehicle sales, now comprising more than 25% of new car purchases in Australia compared to less than 10% a year ago. This move reflects Ampol's strategy to adapt to the increasing demand for EV infrastructure as consumers switch from traditional fuel vehicles at an unprecedented rate.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Fuel giant Ampol has acquired Evie Networks, one of Australia’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, for $225 million. The deal will triple Ampol's existing EV charging network by adding more than 1000 charging bays, bringing the total to over 1425 charging bays across over 400 sites. This acquisition is timely as Australians are rapidly switching from petrol-powered vehicles to electric ones, with EVs now representing more than 25% of new car sales nationwide, up from less than 10% a year ago. The surge in EV adoption is being driven by the influx of affordable EV models and rising fuel costs due to global oil supply issues caused by conflicts in the Middle East.
Written for “Electric Vehicle Charging Network Pur…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Fuel giant Ampol has struck a deal to acquire one of Australia’s most extensive electric-vehicle charging networks, a move that will more than triple the number of charging bays it owns just as local sales of battery-powered cars surge to record highs.
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sales → strike → highs
Ampol, which runs hundreds of petrol stations across the nation and the Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane, on Thursday said it had agreed to acquire 100 per cent of Evie Networks for $225 million.
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it → run → million
The acquisition will add more than 1000 charging bays to Ampol’s existing AmpCharge network, creating a combined national platform of 1425 charging bays spread across more than 400 sites.
The deal comes as Australians have begun switching from petrol-powered to electric vehicles this year at an unprecedented rate, spurred by an influx of more-affordable EV models and sharp spikes in petrol and diesel prices caused by the war in the Middle East choking off global oil supplies.
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Australians → add → supplies
EVs, which accounted for less than 10 per cent of Australia’s new car market just 12 months ago, now represent more than 25 per cent of new sales– or one in four – nationwide.
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which → account → four
The rapid transition is putting pressure on retail fuel companies to rapidly scale up their public fast-charging infrastructure to keep up with booming demand.
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transition → put → demand
Ampol managing director Matt Halliday said the deal positioned the company to “capture growth” as the uptake of EVs and charging demand increased.
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uptake → say → EVs
“Our job is to be there for customers with what they need, when they need it, as they choose vehicle technology that suits their needs,” he said.
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he → need → needs
More than half are DC fast chargers rated above 50 kilowatts.
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half → rat → kilowatts
Many of them are run by commercial operators including Evie Networks, EVX, Chargefox and Tesla.
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Many → run → Networks
Others are owned by service station chains such as Ampol and BP, or motoring clubs like the NRMA and RACV.
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Others → own → NRMA
However, with drivers making the switch to EVs “faster than ever, public fast-charging infrastructure is failing to keep up”, said Riz Akhter, founder of EV data analytics firm Carloop.
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Akhter → make → Carloop
“That’s going to be the biggest challenge,” he says.
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he → go → ?
Evie Networks’ current principal shareholder is Trevor St Baker, a long-time investor in Australia’s energy industry, with interests spanning coal-fired power stations and electric vehicle infrastructure.
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shareholder → span → stations
The rapid transition is putting pressure on retail fuel companies to rapidly scale up their public fast-charging infrastructure to keep up with booming demand.
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transition → put → demand
Ampol’s acquisition follows surging utilisation rates across its current AmpCharge network this year, in line with a doubling of the sales of EV and plug-in hybrids across the country.
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acquisition → follow → country
The number of charging sessions at Ampol sites, and the volume of energy supplied, had more than doubled in the first half of 2026, Halliday said.
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Halliday → supply → 2026
“This gives us confidence in the strength of the business case that complements our traditional fuels business,” he said.
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he → give → business
“A substantial portion of Australian households have no practical means of charging at home, while public infrastructure is also critical for commercial fleets, rideshare operators and customers travelling longer distances.
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infrastructure → have → distances
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The deal, subject to clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, is expected to compete in the first half of 2027.
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deal → expect → 2027
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newsletter → deliver → stories
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