The first of eight electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers set to be built across the Kimberley in Western Australia’s remote north has been brought online in the beach resort town of Broome.
The WA EV Network is continuing its steady rollout across regional Western Australia this week, bringing online a 150kW fast charger at Town Beach carpark, only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of the historic pearling town.
Operated by state-owned regional power company Horizon Power, the new EV fast charger will allow drivers to top up their EVs in as little as 20 minutes.
Horizon Power says it is also on schedule to open its next EV charging station in Carnarvon in August, while construction has already begun on charging stations in Exmouth, Denham, Derby, and Karratha.
Horizon CEO Stephanie Unwin (pictured above) says the evolution and uptake of electric vehicles is probably one of the biggest changes we’ll see to transport in our lifetime. “Having the right infrastructure in place is critical in reducing the barriers for EV use,” she said in a statement.
She said that some of 27 fast charging locations across regional and remote WA will use a combination of solar and battery, with a back-up diesel generator, to power EV chargers.
When completed, the WA EV Network will stretch over 7,000 kilometres from Kununurra in the north, to Esperance in the south and east to Eucla.
“Broome’s fast charger is an important step to drive the uptake of electric vehicles in WA and ensuring EV drivers can explore our wonderful State without any range anxiety,” said Bill Johnston, Western Australia’s energy minister.
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.