ELECTRIC AVENUE
QUEENSLAND PREPARES FOR EXPANDED EV CHARGING NETWORK
Extra charging stations will be constructed as Queensland positions itself among the leaders in electric vehicle technology Down Under.
The State Government has committed $2.5 million for another 13 charging points on the Queensland Electric Super Highway — the $3 million 17-station, 1900km fast-charging network that stretches from the NSW border to Far North Queensland via Brisbane and west to Toowoomba.
Since completion last year there have been less than 2900 charging sessions.
Cairns was one of the first charging stations to open and led the way regionally, while the two facilities at Hamilton proved most popular.
Charging has been free since the highway was launched and the cost moratorium will continue until mid-2019.
While electric vehicle sales account for only 0.1 per cent of the new car market, incoming derivatives at lower prices with ranges of more than 400km are forecast to spark the market.
Hyundai has released the Ioniq from $44,990 with a range of about 200km, but will launch its Kona Electric compact SUV next month with a price less than $60,000 boasting a range of more than 400km. Sister company Kia will have the e-Niro available by the fourth quarter with an estimated cost of about $50,000.
Jaguar welcomed the I-Pace into its showrooms late last year with prices starting from $123,814 plus on-roads boasting a real-world range of about 420km.
Tesla models start from $171,680, but the more affordable Model 3 is due in “the second half of 2019” and is expected to be about $80,000 drive-away with a range circa 500km.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the slow initial uptake of electric vehicles was due to an 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.”
He said the new stations would further alleviate range anxiety — one of the major barriers for future EV consumers.
Government fleets will include 36 electric vehicles by May. There are currently 211 hybrid vehicles operating in Qfleet with another 208 on order.
Brisbane-based company Tritium has worked installed charging facilities in 27 counties 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.
“We are seeing major charging networks roll out. Late last year we hit our 50th DC (direct current) charger in the country. 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.”
Locations of the new charging facilities are yet to be announced.
Last month, findings of the federal Senate’s Electric Vehicle inquiry recommended a national strategy be developed to “facilitate and accelerate” the uptake of electric vehicles. It was also recommended that the Australian Government introduce more stringent vehicle emissions standards and establish new CO2 targets.