Electric car enthusiasts Neerav Bhatt and Sarah Aubrey discuss why most public electric car charging stations don’t have shelter and is it safe to charge an EV in the rain?
As famous Australian writer Dorothea Mackellar wrote we are “a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains”, and yet it is extremely rare to visit an electric car charging site in our country that has some decent shelter from burning sun/pouring rain with a place to sit and rest.
One of the few examples I’ve seen during my EV road trips is Chargefox Barnawartha North, pictured below.

At a EV conference in 2023 I met Edward Lynch-Bell (at the time working in Product Development at Evie Networks and he was able to explain why Evie electric car charging locations don’t have any shade above them so far.
Ed explained:
“So here’s why you don’t see a lot of shelter at EV charging stations in Australia – Installing chargers does not (generally) require council approval through a development authorisation (DA)”.
“If you put in a canopy, that is considered a permanent structure and you then have to go through a planning approval process that can slow the project down by months, if not years.”
So that’s the reason for no shade at the majority of EV chargers. It makes sense, anyone who has applied to their local council for a DA knows that it can be a long delayed process.
Evie and other Australian charging networks obviously can’t afford to delay the activation of a new charging site by months or over a year and the EV owning public don’t want that either.

As for charging in the rain, I’ve done it many times.
Many EV owners wonder about the safety of charging their vehicles in wet weather. Rest assured that charging your electric vehicle in normal rain conditions is completely safe.
All certified charging equipment undergoes rigorous testing and is specifically designed to handle wet weather conditions, with robust weatherproofing built into every component.
However, it’s essential to always inspect your charging cables before use. Never attempt to charge with cables that show signs of damage or fraying, as this could compromise your safety. A quick visual check before each charging session can prevent potential hazards.
If you encounter damaged charging equipment, contact the charging network operator immediately.
While regular rain poses no threat, extreme weather conditions call for extra precautions.
During severe weather events, park and charge your electric car in a secure location away from potential hazards.
If you live in or are traveling through flooded areas during heavy rainfall or potential flash flooding, try to postpone charging and relocate to higher ground.
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