The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) has celebrated the addition of the first 150kW rapid EV charging site on its Charge network, located at the Barossa Central shopping centre.
The new charging location at Nuriootpa is the first of more than 50 rapid or ultra-rapid charging sites to be added to the RAA Charge network.
“Powered by renewable electricity, our rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are the future of EV charging technology and will help to make range anxiety a thing of the past for South Australian EV drivers,” said Nick Reade, RAA CEO.
“These charging sites will help power South Australians through their regional road trips, allowing for only a short stop to plug in and grab a coffee or bite to eat before hitting the road again – fully charged.”
Once completed, the full network will consist of 140 charging sites, made up of 86 charging stations with a maximum output of 7kW, and 54 rapid and ultra-rapid charging stations with maximum output of 150kW and 200kW respectively.
Currently, 25% of these sites are already online and available to EV drivers. When the network is completed, around 75% of the charging stations will be located in regional towns along highways, in tourism hotspots, and at popular holiday accommodation sites.
The prices for charging at the rapid and ultra rapid sites will vary according to the time of day, with the evening peak (5pm-10pm) at 68c/kWh, and standard (all other times) at 59c/kWh. Other charging networks, such as Chargefox, are trialling even more variations between peak and non peak.
“We are now 25 per cent of the way through the rollout of the RAA Charge network giving more South Australian drivers the confidence to go all-electric,” added Reade.
“In the coming months another approximately 10 Rapid or Ultra-Rapid chargers will come online in regions such as the Fleurieu Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and Adelaide Hills.”
According to RAA, the following rapid and ultra-rapid charging sites are expected to be completed and brought online over the coming months:
- Burnside Council carpark (200kW Ultra-Rapid)
- Mt Barker Homemaker Centre (200kW Ultra-Rapid)
- Cowell Waterfront carpark (150kW Rapid)
- Port Augusta Wharflands Esplanade (200kW Ultra-Rapid)
- Normanville Village Green (150kW Rapid)
- Barmera Main St carpark (200kW Ultra-Rapid)
- Blackwood Community Centre carpark (150kW Rapid)
- Morgan Railway Terrace carpark (150kW Rapid)
- Woodside Klose’s Foodland (150kW Rapid)
- Goolwa Council carpark (150kW Rapid)
“We hope and expect to see a huge influx of electric cars on South Australian roads in coming years, and we want to ensure that demand is well catered for,” added Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia’s minister for energy & mining.
“Regional and rural connectivity is a must, not just to make sure people living in the regions aren’t locked out of the benefits of owning an electric vehicle, but to incentivise people travelling to and through these areas.
“A statewide EV charging network is an important step on our journey to a net zero future. We look forward to watching the network continue to grow with South Australian motorists’ needs.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.