Gemma Bull

EV charging network company eLu has unveiled its first public charging station less than a year after setting up its Australian headquarters in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP). 

eLu has installed a best-in-class EV charging pod at the Parkwood Village Gold Coast Titans High-Performance Centre, with more eLu pods to soon roll out across Australia. 

eLu’s Australian Director Doug Fraser says the Parkwood facility features the company’s eLumina D1 Supercharger, the fastest and most powerful battery-integrated EV charger in Australia. 

ELu, says Mr Fraser, moved from “absolute zero traction” on its arrival on the Gold Coast in February 2023 to the December launch of its five-bay pod at Parkwood. 

We’ve moved from absolute zero traction in February, when we met with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, to the Australian launch of our first electric vehicle charging pod in December 2023,” he says. 

“To any other tech companies out there in Australia or from overseas looking to establish themselves in Australia and to build their business here, I honestly recommend having a talk to the team at the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. 

“You’ll be surprised what you can achieve here in a very short space of time.” 

eLu’s Precinct base is within Cohort Innovation Space; they’re now planning a manufacturing plant at Yatala to support their growth. 

The company is also finalising distribution points in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and NSW and exhibited the D1 to exceptional industry feedback at the 2023 Mobility Live Expo in Sydney, Australia’s peak EV showcase. 

Their flagship D1 Supercharger boasts an inbuilt smart energy management system that maximises energy consumption efficiencies and tailors charging delivery to all makes of 100% EVs. 

The D1’s unique 200kwh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) can power 20 homes and enables the unit to draw low-trickle charge power from the grid (or from solar), but output at high speeds for a fast charge. 

“Despite only being in the Australian market for a limited amount of time,” says Doug, “the team and our products have received exceptional feedback from government departments, fleet owners, EV car dealerships and venues from around Australia.” 

GCHKP Director Craig Rowsell says eLu’s rapid progress is testament to the Precinct’s function as a launchpad for innovation-driven startups.  

“The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct provides a great landing pad for tech startups from across Australia and overseas,” says Mr Rowsell. 

“Companies can establish their headquarters at the Cohort Innovation Space and then be connected to the broader manufacturing sites across the Gold Coast to scale their company.” 

eLu Chief Operating Officer Chris Yang says the company feels right at home on the Gold Coast and has also begun exploring an R&D collaboration with Griffith University.   

We felt that there was a genuine innovation spirit on the Gold Coast and that we would really like to be part of it,” he says. 

“I think it’s really about the people. We’ve found really talented and inspirational people full of passion here on the Gold Coast.”