John McGrath Case Study

About John McGrath Auto Group

John McGrath Auto Group is a trusted name in Canberra, known for its wide selection of new and used vehicles, including light commercial vehicles and trucks. With a strong portfolio of respected automotive brands including Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu, Kia, GMSV, MG, SsangYong, and LDV, the group has earned a reputation for delivering reliable service and a diverse vehicle offering to the local community.

The Opportunity

As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, the team at John McGrath Kia saw an opportunity to position themselves as leaders in EV adoption. With more EV models entering the Kia lineup, the dealership recognised the need for visible, fast, and reliable charging infrastructure on-site.

The goal was to provide charging support for current and future EV customers, and to attract new visitors to the dealership by offering a public charging point. After careful evaluation of potential partners, Exploren was selected for its market leading software and billing services.

This charger was integrated with the Exploren public EV charging network, providing remote access, streamlined payment processing, and reliable uptime for drivers and dealership staff alike.

Charger Installed: 1 x Ocular Atlas 120kW DC Dual Port

Location: John McGrath Kia, Canberra

Exploren’s Role: Delivering a smart public charging platform with Automated billing, remote monitoring and user-friendly access.

Smart Charging Software Powered by Exploren

Beyond the hardware, a key part of this project’s success has been the software platform operating behind the scenes. Connected to the Exploren public charging network, John McGrath can remotely monitor charger performance in real time and access session data and energy usage reports to support informed tariff decisions. Live alerts for faults or outages enable the Exploren team to stay on top of maintenance, ensuring the charger remains available and reliable for drivers.

This level of visibility and control maximises uptime and delivers an excellent customer experience, all without requiring hands-on involvement from dealership staff. The platform’s web dashboard and reporting tools also provide valuable insights into charger utilisation and site performance over time, supporting smarter operational planning.

The Results

The charger has quickly become a valuable asset to both the dealership and the wider community. Located near retail and service areas, it allows EV drivers to charge from 20% to 80% in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. While dual charging ports enable two vehicles to charge at once, increasing convenience and charger availability.

As one of the few publicly available DC fast chargers in the area the station has already delivered over 9000 kWh on average per month and is seeing an average of 400 charging sessions monthly. This has driven new foot traffic to the site and boosted local visibility for the Kia dealership.

Why It Matters

This installation supports Kia’s push into electrification while enhancing John McGrath Kia’s commitment to innovation and customer service. The EV charger not only delivers tangible community benefits but has also proven to be a valuable business investment, generating consistent revenue and positioning the dealership for long-term success in the EV market.