Nine iconic road trips now equipped with EV charging stations for an electric ride

The New South Wales government has equipped nine iconic road trips with EV charging stations in a push to encourage more EV drivers to embrace long-distance driving, and to dispel common fears around range anxiety.

There are at least two fast-charging plugs and one destination charging plug per 100 kilometres on every route, more than enough for the average EV which can typically travel between 320 to 480 kilometres on a single charge.

 The nine newly EV-friendly road trips are:

• A U-shaped, 257-kilometre journey from Newcastle to Maitland through the Central Coast and Hunter Valley
• The Grand Pacific Drive, a 200-kilometre journey along the coastline from Sydney to Jervis Bay
• The Greater Blue Mountains Drive, which takes drivers on a 283-kilometre round trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains
• A 210-kilometre journey through the Southern Highlands to the South Coast
• The 171-kilometre Kosciuszko Alpine Way through the Snowy Mountains
• A 100-kilometre trip through the Southern Tablelands
• An epic 422-kilometre drive through the Southern and Riverina Murray regions
• An 819-kilometre, multi-day drive along the Pacific Highway
• And the Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive

Each road trip has its own webpage with an itinerary and details of the EV charging options available along the way.

The move is part of the Minns Labor Government’s $199 million investment in EV charging stations around the state, which has already seen funding awarded for more than 3,000 charging ports at more than 1,100 sites.

EV charging is becoming a major focal point of the tourism sector, with installations bolstering a region’s tourism credentials and attractiveness to the more sustainability-conscious traveler.

And it’s been a bumper month for such announcements, with the Western Australia state government recently announcing that its state-spanning EV charging highway is fully operational.

That network, part of a major push to promote EV uptake in the state as promised in the 2021 election campaign, has drawn international acclaim in the tourism sector, with both the BBC and the New York Times placing the state on their must-visit lists for 2025, making direct reference to the highway as bolstering the state’s sustainability drawcard.

The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) Infrastructure Officer Michael Shaughnessy said EV charging routes like these were a major drawcard for tourism.

“Australians love road trips, and as more travellers switch to electric vehicles, reliable charging infrastructure becomes essential,” he said. “When EV drivers stop to recharge, they have the perfect opportunity to explore local attractions, dine at nearby businesses, and contribute to regional economies, making charging stations not just a necessity but a driver of tourism growth.”

Recent moves to bolster EV charging across Australia – including another $2.4 million committed by the Albanese government to instal kerbside chargers around the country – reflect a surge in the EV market.

Data from the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) shows that about 114,000 new BEVs and PHEVs were sold in Australia in 2024 – a new record, up from the 98,000 sales made in 2023 – meaning about one in every ten cars sold in Australia were electric or plug in hybrids.

The EVC credited that massive surge to a combination of increased trust and buy-in from the Australian public alongside the growing availability of cost-competitive models from various brands in the previously Tesla-dominated market.

“Cost and range anxiety remain the biggest barriers to EV adoption in Australia, but both are rapidly being addressed,” said Shaughnessy “The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is expanding consumer choice, making EVs more affordable, with some models now available for under $30,000. Meanwhile, concerns about range anxiety are easing as charging infrastructure improves.

Shaughnessy said it was great to see increasing investment in different corners of Australia, which he hoped would continue.

“The EVC has been pleased to see investment in public charging equipment from the majority of states and territories,” he said. “Continued investment will be needed for some time to come.

“Western Australia has just completed one of the longest EV charging highways in the world, stretching from Mundrabilla near the SA border all the way to Kununurra near the NT border. Queensland also has an electric super highway – once that’s complete it will span from Port Douglas to Coolangatta.

“Tasmania has just completed round two of their ReCFIT charger grants which sees public chargers dotted around the Apple Isle on all the major tourist routes, every 150km or less. Other states and territories could benefit from having similar infrastructure along their popular tourist routes and major highways.”

For more information, visit NSW EV Road Trips.