The Queensland government-backed expansion of the state’s electric vehicle supercharger network will be delivered by the Queensland Energy subsidiary Yurika, the company has revealed, along with the locations of the new 18 charging sites.
The state Labor government revealed last week the commencement of stage three of the Queensland Electric Super Highway project, expanding the network’s current 31 EV charging sites to a total of 49, with $2.75 million in new funding.
As The Driven reported last week, Queensland Electric Super Highway, or QESH, will expand into the north-west of the state, extending the length of the “highway” from roughly 2,000km to 3,800km.
Charging costs 20 cents per kWh, making the network one of the cheaper charging options currently available in Australia. The network has used rapid-charging stations built in Queensland by Tritium, with previous deployments using Tritium’s Veefil-RT 50kW DC model.
Revealing further details of the latest expansion, including the locations of the 18 new charge points, Yurika executive general manager Carly Irving said the company was happy to continue its role in the Electric Super Highway rollout.
“Yurika has proudly been front and centre in building and operating the Queensland Electric Super Highway from day one, in partnership with the Queensland Government and the RACQ,” Irving said.
“Stage Three will add another 18 electric vehicle charging sites to Queensland’s Electric Super Highway, all of them in outback locations.
“This means there will soon be 49 fast charging locations for EV drivers to explore the length and breadth of our beautiful state.”
The locations listed for the new EV charging sites include Charters Towers, Hughenden, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Emerald, Dingo, Charleville, Roma, Miles, Kingaroy and Esk.
In comments accompanying the Yurika announcement, state transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey said use of the QESH was at an all-time high.
“Electric vehicle drivers will be able to take trips from Brisbane to Mount Isa, Goondiwindi to Emerald, and Longreach to Cairns knowing there are charging stations along the way,” Bailey said.
“Sending the QESH out west not only puts EV charging on the map in regional Queensland but supports the drive tourism market too, importantly to tourism centres like Winton where the Palaszczuk government is delivering $4.9 million in new additions to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum.”
State energy minister Mick de Brenni said expanding the Queensland Electric Super Highway was just another way the Palaszczuk government was working towards the 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.
“Every time a motorist makes the choice to fill their tank with energy made in Queensland, it allows for the continued growth of renewables in our state,” he said.
“Our $2 billion Renewable Energy and Jobs Fund means electrical vehicle owners will have access to the cheapest, cleanest electricity in the nation.”
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.