EVwire brief: Fuel giant Ampol is buying Evie Networks, a major Australian public EV charging operator, in a AU$225 million (US$156 million) deal. The purchase is being made through Ampol's wholly owned subsidiary, Ampol Energy Pty Ltd.
The deal brings more than 1,030 Evie charging bays into Ampol's AmpCharge network, for a combined total of about 1,425 bays at over 400 sites across the country. The deal still needs clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and is expected to close in the first half of 2027. Until then, the two companies will keep operating separately.
The official Evie account announced the deal on LinkedIn:
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Ampol Managing Director and CEO Matt Halliday pointed to fast-growing demand on AmpCharge to back the move. In the first half of 2026, charging sessions on Ampol's network jumped 116% and the energy delivered rose 120%. He added that a large share of homes in Australia can't realistically charge an EV themselves, and that fleets, rideshare drivers and long-distance travelers all lean on public chargers.
Halliday credited Trevor St Baker, Evie's principal shareholder, as an early champion of EV charging in Australia":
“Evie’s principal shareholder, Trevor St Baker AO, has been a genuine pioneer of Australia’s EV charging industry and his vision and capability have helped build Evie’s national platform and the foundations for broader EV adoption across Australia.
"Public charging infrastructure is a precondition for broad electric vehicle adoption. That is particularly acute in a country the size of Australia, where long distances between charging locations can contribute to 'range anxiety’ and deter motorists from purchasing an EV.”
For Evie's drivers, nothing changes yet. Evie says its chargers, app, accounts, Autocharge and Evie Mates program will all keep working as they do now.
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Context:
Evie launched in 2017, back when fast chargers were few and far between in Australia, on the bet that drivers would eventually switch to EVs in large numbers. The network now reaches every Australian state and territory, and Ampol says its sites come with long-term leases and existing grid connections, with room to expand at some locations.
The timing lines up with a sharp rise in Australian EV demand. Ampol notes that EVs have made up more than 20% of new car sales on average over the past five months, and Halliday called public charging a prerequisite for wider adoption in a country where long gaps between chargers can still put buyers off.
Source: Ampol, Evie Networks on LinkedIn
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