When Safety Systems Talk to Each Other: A Real Event from Last Night

Last night, at one of our Melbourne sites, something important happened — not because of what went wrong, but because of how the NOX Energy managed system responded.  At 5:41PM, a faulty sprinkler on Level 4 of one our buildings triggered the building’s fire alarm system. As expected, the building’s Alarm Signalling Equipment (ASE) activated.  In less than 60 seconds — by 5:42PM — every NOX Intelligent Power Socket (IPS) in the building (40+) was automatically shut down by our NOX Management System (NMS). No manual intervention. No delays.   At the same time, the NMS alerted our team. And they were able to:  All of this happened seamlessly, in real time.   Why This Matters  While EV fires are so rare “that the risk of fire is zero,”, perception and confidence matter — especially in apartment buildings.  This is exactly why NOX Energy has built integration between our NMS and building fire systems (ASE) into our solution.  It means:  No reliance on manual shutdowns and no uncertainty.   Not Required But Done Anyway  This level of integration is not required by any Australian regulation, state authority, or council and is on top of the ‘health checks’ we do on all of our devices every 60 seconds.    We made a deliberate decision when Wylie, Matt, and I launched NOX:  If there’s a practical way to improve safety and confidence, we build it in.  By default. Every time.  This isn’t about compliance — it’s about trust.  Our ASE integration and health check monitoring is designed to give confidence to:  Because in an emergency, simplicity and certainty matter.   A Small Incident, A Big Proof Point  Last night wasn’t an EV issue. It was a faulty sprinkler.  But it demonstrated something critical:  When building systems are properly integrated, EV charging becomes just another safe, well-managed part of the building infrastructure.  And that’s exactly how it should be.   Author: Charlie Richardson, Chief Operating Officer 

Australia’s Largest EV Charging Project Accelerates EV Adoption in Apartment Buildings

NOX Energy has unveiled Australia’s largest EV-enabled apartment building at Sierra Hawthorn in Melbourne, offering every resident a dedicated EV charging point and setting a new standard for shared residential EV charging. The project includes 241 apartments and five commercial tenancies, with every resident provided access to a dedicated EV charging point located at their parking space. In total, 251 charging points have been installed across the site, making it one of the largest deployments of its kind. This project represents a landmark moment for EV charging in apartment buildings across Australia. The problem: apartment charging has been a barrier For many Australians living in freestanding homes, electric car charging at home is easy and convenient, but apartment residents do not enjoy the same convenience. Apartment residents have historically faced several challenges, including limited access to charging infrastructure, high installation costs, complex electrical upgrades, and the need to navigate strata approvals. As a result, many cannot own an EV, despite rising interest. At the building’s launch event, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen acknowledged that while EVs are cheaper to run and better for the environment, access to charging remains a key barrier for many apartment residents. The solution: simple, scalable charging This project demonstrates a practical and scalable alternative to traditional EV charging infrastructure. NOX Energy has installed Intelligent Power Sockets across the building, which are standard power points designed specifically for EV charging and supported by smart load management and integrated billing software. Each charging point costs approximately $1,000 installed, including the EV backbone infrastructure, keeping costs significantly lower than those of traditional wall-mounted chargers, which often require costly upgrades and more complex installations. The system has been designed to ensure: This approach makes EV charging viable in large apartment buildings and eliminates the need for major electrical upgrades. Built for scale Scale defines this project and sets it apart in the Australian market. The building fully enables EV charging for all 241 apartments, providing a complete, building-wide solution rather than a limited rollout or pilot program. The site also includes 10 additional charging points and a 22kW charger to support commercial tenants. Australia has historically lagged in rolling out shared EV charging in apartment buildings, but this project proves that large-scale deployment is achievable today with the right approach. Lower cost for residents Home EV charging remains the most cost-effective way to power a vehicle, especially compared to public charging or petrol vehicles. At Sierra Hawthorn, each installed charging point saves residents about $2,000 per year in fuel costs versus running a petrol vehicle, based on typical usage patterns. These savings are driven by lower electricity costs, the ability to charge overnight, and reduced reliance on public charging stations, which are often more expensive and less convenient. For example, typical electricity rates paid by Owners Corporations (the collective group that manages an apartment building) are $0.30/kWh, whereas public fast chargers (stations that can quickly charge an EV) charge around $0.70/kWh.  Providing on-site electric vehicle charging access greatly improves the economics of EV ownership for apartment residents, delivering lower costs and greater convenience for EV drivers. Delivered through collaboration NOX Energy delivered this project in collaboration with government and industry partners, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts to accelerate EV adoption. The project forms part of the “Accelerating EV Adoption: Unlocking EVs for Strata Residents” program, which the Australian Renewable Energy Agency supports through the Driving the Nation initiative. ModTech Group completed the installation and designed the infrastructure to maximise safety and efficiency, with ceiling-mounted charging solutions above parking spaces. What this means for apartment buildings This project proves that EV charging in apartments can be affordable, scalable, and practical when implemented with the right technology. It removes the need for large upfront electrical upgrades while ensuring that every resident has fair access to charging, a challenge that has historically been one of the biggest in strata environments. NOX Energy is focused on expanding this model across more apartment buildings, workplaces, and shared car parks throughout Australia, helping to remove one of the largest barriers to widespread EV adoption and strengthening the broader EV charging network. Enquire about EV charging for your building If you are a building owner, strata manager, or developer looking to enable EV charging in your building, NOX Energy can deliver a practical, cost-effective EV charging solution tailored to your building. Contact the team to learn more about installing Intelligent Power Sockets and supporting EV adoption within your property. Get in touch to find out more.