Personal safety at public EV chargers has become a talking point this week, as more drivers rely on fast chargers in quiet car parks, often after dark. A fast-charging stop can mean 20 to 40 minutes parked in one spot, sometimes at a site with nobody else around. Australia has no binding national safety standard for every public charger. Federal guidance encourages lighting, CCTV and emergency help at government-funded sites, but it doesn't cover the whole network. This guide explains what the rules say and who they cover, and gives a practical checklist you can use tonight.
Why this matters now
The public network has grown quickly. Figures in the Electric Vehicle Council's State of EVs 2026 report show 4268 public charging locations as at 30 June 2026, up 235 per cent in a year, with 11,602 connectors. Of those, 1562 are high-power sites. These include 845 fast sites at 24 to 99kW and 717 ultra-fast sites at 100kW or more. The average fast site has only 3.5 connectors, so many are small installations at the edge of a car park.
EV sales are also climbing. The same report puts first-half 2026 sales at 157,957 EVs, or 25.8 per cent of the market. More drivers without home charging, more night-time highway trips and more small sites add up to more people charging alone after dark.
What the federal guidance says
In October 2025, the federal energy department (DCCEEW) published minimum operating standards guidance for government-supported public charging. On personal safety, the guidance encourages operators to consider the following.
- CCTV covering chargers and the area around them
- Lighting to the Australian and New Zealand road lighting standard, AS/NZS 1158
- Siting chargers close to amenities such as shops or toilets
- Emergency call buttons at remote or isolated sites
- Shelter from the weather
The same guidance sets firmer reliability rules, including a 98 per cent uptime target. It also requires card payment that works without an app or phone signal, clear price display, a way to report faults and real-time support at DC fast-charging sites. These measures help safety indirectly, because a working charger and a helpline mean less time stranded.
Who the guidance applies to
This is the key limitation. The standards apply only to charging sites that receive government support. Privately funded chargers at shopping centres, hotels, service stations and dealerships aren't bound by them. Even at funded sites, the safety measures are things operators are encouraged to consider, not fixed requirements.
The Commonwealth has committed more than $500 million to charging, according to the EVC report. That includes the NRMA highway network, where 54 of 77 planned stations were complete by 30 June 2026. A new kerbside program will add about 1400 pole-mounted chargers from 2027, installed by electricity network businesses. DCCEEW's guidance for councils on kerbside chargers sets site rules covering legal parking, access, cable trip hazards and footpath width. It doesn't mention lighting or CCTV. Proposed postcodes are due to be published in early December 2026, with sites to be identified in three tranches from early 2027.
What we don't know
- There is no published Australian data on crime or harassment at EV charging sites, so nobody can say whether chargers are more or less risky than other car parks.
- No register shows which public chargers have CCTV, lighting to AS/NZS 1158 or an emergency button.
- Charging apps don't consistently show lighting or security information for each site.
- It isn't clear how the kerbside program will handle lighting at night.
Overseas surveys have looked at the issue. A UK survey of 339 women for Europcar UK in February 2026 found 70 per cent considered safety when choosing a charger and 54 per cent avoided some sites. That's UK data from a small sample and may not reflect Australian conditions.
Before you go
- Plan your stops in daylight where you can, and pick a backup charger in case your first choice is broken or busy.
- Prefer sites at staffed businesses, such as service stations or shopping centres open late, over isolated car parks.
- Check recent user comments in your charging app for reports of broken chargers, poor lighting or anti-social behaviour.
- Save the operator's support number in your phone before you arrive. It is usually printed on the charger and listed in the app.
- Arrive with some charge left, so you can leave and go elsewhere if a site doesn't feel right.
- Share your trip with someone if you're driving alone at night.
When you arrive and while you charge
- Take a quick look around before getting out. If something feels wrong, drive on.
- Park so you can drive straight out, if the cable reaches.
- Stay in the car with the doors locked if you're comfortable doing so. Most EVs keep the climate control running while charging.
- Keep your phone charged and your keys handy.
- Keep valuables out of sight and don't leave the car unlocked while you walk to the shop.
- If you are using a card on the charger screen, shield your PIN and watch for anything attached to the card reader.
If the cable won't release or the charge won't stop
A stuck cable is one of the main reasons drivers end up waiting at a site longer than planned. Chargefox's advice on stuck charging cables suggests these steps.
- Make sure the session has fully stopped in the app, on the car's display or on the charger screen. This can take several minutes, and you may hear a click as the locking pin releases.
- Lock and unlock the car a few times, or unlock the charge port from the car's screen.
- Heavy cables can put tension on the plug. Push the plug firmly in, then hold the cable's weight while you try again.
- Check your owner's manual for the manual cable release, or call your car maker or roadside assistance.
- Call the operator's support line if the session won't stop. For Chargefox sites, the number is 1300 518 038.
Other networks have similar steps. If you feel unsafe while you're stuck, you can lock yourself in the car and call for help rather than standing at the charger.
If something goes wrong
- In an emergency, call triple zero (000).
- For non-urgent incidents, contact police on 131 444 in most states.
- Report broken lights, damaged chargers and safety concerns to the charging operator, and to the site owner if it's a shopping centre or council car park.
What it means for drivers
Most public charging sessions are uneventful, but the network isn't built to one safety standard. Funded sites are encouraged to add lighting and cameras, while many private sites set their own rules. Until operators publish site safety details, a little planning goes a long way. For the cost side of public charging, see our guide to public EV charging costs in Australia. If you're planning a long drive, our highway charging trip guide helps with planning stops. You can also browse electric cars on sale in Australia.
