Australia's electric vehicle market just hit a milestone nobody expected this fast. In March 2026, a record 15,839 battery-electric vehicles were sold, capturing 14.6% of the total new car market — nearly double the 7.5% share from March 2025. BYD became the third best-selling car brand in Australia for the first time. Chinese-manufactured vehicles now account for a larger share of new car imports than Japanese-made ones for the first time in history.

At the same time, government grants and strata law reforms are making EV charging in apartment buildings not just possible, but inevitable. The NSW Government's $10 million EV Ready Buildings Grant is co-funding electrical infrastructure upgrades — covering up to 80% of costs, up to $80,000 per building. Melbourne's Sierra Hawthorn building launched in March 2026 with 252 EV charge points, the largest EV-enabled apartment building in the southern hemisphere, as part of ARENA's $4.7 million strata EV adoption program.

This is excellent news for sustainability and for apartment residents locked out of home charging. But it also creates a fire safety challenge that many strata committees, body corporates, and facility managers haven't yet addressed.

The Regulatory Landscape Is Shifting Fast

Separately, from 13 February 2026, NSW apartment buildings must have fire safety systems inspected, tested, and serviced in accordance with Australian Standard AS 1851. Building owners and the owners corporation can be fined if maintenance doesn't meet the standard.

NSW strata reforms effective from July 2025 classify EV charging as "Sustainability Infrastructure" under the Strata Schemes Management Act. Installations now require only a simple majority vote, and owners corporations can no longer ban chargers on aesthetic grounds unless the building is heritage listed.

Why Traditional Building Fire Systems Aren't Enough

Most apartment building fire systems were designed around conventional risks — electrical faults, cooking fires, cigarettes. They rely on smoke detection, sprinkler activation, fire-rated compartmentalisation, and protected evacuation stairwells. These systems remain essential, but they weren't engineered for lithium-ion battery fire behaviour.

Purpose-built lithium-ion fire safety equipment at accessible points near EV charging infrastructure fills the gap between a fire starting and professional fire services arriving — a gap that determines whether an incident stays contained to one vehicle or spreads through the car park.

What Strata Committees Should Be Doing Now

If your building already has EV chargers — or is planning to install them — here's a practical fire safety action plan:

1. Audit your current fire safety equipment Identify where EV charging is occurring and check whether lithium-ion specific equipment is positioned near those areas. A standard ABE extinguisher beside an EV charger is not fit for purpose for a battery fire.
2. Install purpose-built lithium-ion extinguishers and blankets Position 4L or 9L extinguishers at clearly labelled points near every EV charging zone. Pair with 6m × 8m car-sized fire blankets for full-size EV areas and 2m × 2m blankets near any e-bike or e-scooter charging stations.
3. Review e-bike and e-scooter charging locations These devices carry a higher statistical fire risk. Consider establishing designated charging areas with appropriate safety equipment rather than allowing charging in individual apartments or corridors.
4. Ensure AS 1851 compliance The new NSW enforcement requirements from February 2026 mean fire safety maintenance can no longer be deferred. Confirm your practitioner is following the standard — electronic records alone are not sufficient.
5. Communicate with residents A simple notice in common areas about safe charging practices and the location of fire safety equipment can make a meaningful difference. Many people don't understand how battery fires differ from conventional fires.

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