WE LEAD THE CHARGE
CAIRNS is at the forefront of a motoring revolution with the city named the best regional centre in the state for drivers powering up their electric vehicles.
The Esplanade’s charging station has clocked up the most visits on the Queensland Electric Super Highway’s regional sites. Now more than $2 million is set to be invested into the route.
Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said: “In Queensland, EVs have the lowest registration costs, combined with lower operating and maintenance costs which can provide a competitive transport option.”
the regional king of electric vehicles, Cairns is leading the way in its adoption of alternative fuel.
The Esplanade was the most popular of all regional sites along the Queensland Electric Super Highway – which stretches to the NSW border.
Another $2.5 million will be invested in the highway despite the slow adoption of electric vehicles across the state.
Since completion last January, less than 2900 sessions had been logged across the 17 stations which cost $3 million to install.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said another 13 facilities at yet to be announced locations would be built to reduce distance between stations to “alleviate range anxiety”.
The move is timely, with electric vehicle releases about to spike.
Hyundai has launched its Ioniq with a 200km range from $44,990, but the gamechanger will be the Kona Electric SUV that will be able to travel up to 470km on one charge and priced from less than $60,000.
Kia will follow suit later this year with its own version that is forecast to cost about $10,000 less.
Tesla models, which start from $171,680, had previously been the only electric vehicle options with a range more than 400km.
Luxury brand Jaguar has just released its $123,814 IPace, while Mercedes-Benz and Audi will also follow suit this year.
Brisbane-based company Tritium has worked installing charging facilities in 27 countries and chief product officer Paul Sernia said the electric tide had begun to turn in Australia.
“In the past 12 months the activity has really stepped up to the next level,” he said.
“All the signals are positive and we are going to find that activity accelerating. Once you hit that 400-plus kilometre driving range it starts to become a more accessible vehicle to a lot of different drivers. That’s really exciting.”
Minister Bailey said the slow initial uptake of electric vehicles was due to the absence of a federal electric vehicle policy.
“National leadership is long overdue. Australia is a single market and we need a co-ordinated approach and commitment from all levels of government,” he said.
“In Queensland, EVs have the lowest registration costs, combined with lower operating and maintenance costs which can provide a competitive transport option.”