A $15 million network of 21 ultra-rapid charging stations will be built along major Australian driving routes to boost uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).
Australian start-up Chargefox will build the new charging staion network, which will see stations placed between Brisbane and Adelaide, around Sydney and Melbourne, and separately in Western Australia.
Once in place, EV drivers can then charge their vehicles in as little as 15 minutes. This means the end of the days of having to time your stops for extended breaks like meals, according not to your hunger, but to the hunger of your EV battery.
No more than 200 kilometres will exist between charging points.
App helps drivers locate and pay for charging stations
Power output between 150 kW and 350 kW will make the chargers the fastest currently available in Australia.
The Federal Government will contribute $6 million to the scheme via the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Australian motoring clubs, the Victorian government ($1 million) and businesses are also contributing. These include Wilson Transformers and the founder of Carsales, Greg Roebuck.
The first two Victorian sites are Euroa and Barnawartha North, outside Wodonga on the NSW border.
The Chargefox app will help drivers locate charging stations across Australia. Users can also pay for charging via their mobile phone.
‘Range anxiety’ could soon be a thing of the past
‘Range anxiety’, a small range of EV choices and lack of infrastructure are currently holding back EV uptake in Australia. In fact, EV sales in 2017 made up just 0.2 per cent of Australian vehicle sales.
However, Energeia research shows rapidly evolving EVs should make up all new Australian vehicle sales by 2040. EVs could even have the same range capacity as petrol and diesel fuelled cars by 2024.
Fast charging networks also allow EV owners to charge a 100 kWh battery in only five minutes for $11. Ninety-nine per cent of Australian road trips total less than 50 to 100 km return, therefore the range is well within current EV capability.
Round Australia EV charging station map
A comprehensive, nationwide charging station map was released by the Tesla Owners Club of Australia in June 2017.
The Round Australia Electric Highway map shows the location of charging stations around Australia. It offers a maximum of 400 km between charging points and it should be complete by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the Queensland government launched the Electric Super Highway in July 2017. Stretching from the Gold Coast to Cairns, it will be the world’s longest highway of its type in one state.
Solar power systems can also be used charge EVs at home. Addition of Tesla Powerwall and sonnen batteries means cars can therefore be charged cheaply overnight.
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