Despite having the most electric vehicles of any LGA outside Sydney, Wollongong lacks a fast charger compatible with most vehicle models.

Wollongong resident Greg Tolhurst recently purchased an electric vehicle and uses it to transport NDIS recipients to doctor's appointments from Shellharbour to Corrimal.

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"If they need to do extra trips then the range makes me a bit nervous because we don't have a fast charger in town," he said.

A fast charger is planned for the Stewart Street East Carpark in Wollongong CBD as part of the NRMA's rollout of charging sites around NSW and that would be the first publicly accessible fast charger for the LGA.

"Council's focus, at this time, remains on the installation of a publicly-accessible, super-fast charger in the Stewart Street East Council carpark," a council spokesperson said. "This would complement other publicly available chargers available in the Wollongong CBD, Figtree and Warrawong that are not on Council-owned or managed land.''

NRMA spokesperson Katrina Usman said the motoring body was working well with Wollongong City Council to have the charger installed.

"The NRMA has 46 charging sites for electric vehicles in operation with 14 more to be completed by the end of the year as part of a co-funded investment with the NSW government," she said.

"The NRMA is working closely with local councils to deliver a fast charging network across NSW to ensure regional towns and remote areas across NSW are not left behind as more motorists transition to electric vehicles."

Other areas around Wollongong already have local access to fast chargers.

The NRMA network includes fast chargers in Picton, Bowral and Berry. Stockland Shellharbour has four fast-chargers.

The University of Wollongong has one publicly accessible fast charger at the Innovation Campus, however it uses a plug that is no longer widely in use.

Dr Scott Denton, who visits friends and family frequently in Wollongong, said the LGA was falling behind other regional areas when it came to this infrastructure.

"Many smaller regional councils have stepped up, with fast chargers available in Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow and Picton to name just a few."

Unlike conventional chargers, which add between 10 and 20km of range per hour on charge, a fast charger can add upwards of 150km per hour, with some chargers fully recharging electric vehicles in 10-15 minutes.

This difference in timing means for locals such as Mr Tolhurst, a drive to Picton to charge makes sense.

"It's half an hour from home and Picton is free and Shellharbour isn't," he said. "I've then got to drive back home but after charging overnight I'm back at full capacity."

Dr Denton said that in comparison to other regional areas, Wollongong was falling behind.

"It is shameful that Wollongong City Council has failed to facilitate one single fast charging station," he said. "Council is clearly asleep at the wheel, out of touch with its community who have embraced the electric vehicle revolution."

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