RACQ chargers. Supplied
Electric vehicle drivers in Queensland spent an average of $3 and 34 minutes charging their cars in 2020 on the 31 fast charging sites that make up the Queensland Electric Vehicle Superhighway (QESH).
According to RACQ, the state motoring body, there were more than 11,600 charges since March on the state network, hailed as the longest EV highway to run through a single state in the world, and which features a unique partnership between RACQ, the government utility Yurika, and the state government itself
RACQ head of public policy Rebecca Michael says the average charge time from the 11,656 unique sessions since March last year had average charge time of less than 34 minutes, and an average cost of around $3 per session. The charging rate is around 20c/kWh.
“Drive tourism is experiencing a renaissance and EV journeys are no exception,” Michael said in a statement. “It’s great to see the chargers in some of Queensland’s top tourism areas are being well-utilised, especially in Cairns, Maryborough, Cooroy and in Brisbane at the Hamilton Foreshore.
Michael said the entire network is now online, offering top ups from the NSW border to far north, and from Brisbane to Toowoomba in the Western Downs.
“Range anxiety can be a real concern for EV drivers, but with the availability along this expansive network, accessibility is no longer an issue and will hopefully give other drivers confidence to make the switch to a lower emissions vehicle,” she said.
“We know EVs not only reduce fuel costs for motorists but are also more environmentally-friendly particularly when charged from renewable energy like the QESH for around 20 cents per kilowatt hour. EV technology is only going to continue to grow in popularity, and having appropriate infrastructure is vital.”
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.
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