Electric vehicles could soon head west when phase three of Queensland’s Super Electric Highway is deployed.
Key points:
- Queensland government is installing more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the west of the state
- Charging stations are now available from Cooloongatta to Cairns
- The number of electric vehicles registered in Queensland has doubled in five years
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the first of 24 new charging stations in Queensland will be completed in Kingaroy next month.
“Then we’ll see others in places like Longreach, all the way down the Flinders Highway to Mount Isa, all the way down Capricorn through Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton,” he said.
“We’ll see Cunnamulla, we’ll see Blackall, we’ll see Emerald, we’ll see Dingo, all these different places over the next 12 months will have an electric vehicle charging station.”
Charging stations are now available from Coolangatta to Cairns.
“It’s very exciting to see that a state as vast as Queensland can cover electric vehicles,” Bailey said.
It coincides with the arrival of the state to a new milestone of 10,000 registered electric vehicles, almost double the figure recorded in 2017.
This figure is expected to increase as more motorists take advantage of the state government’s $ 3,000 discount on six eligible models:
- MG ZS EV Essence
- Act 3 WORLD
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Nissan Leaf
- Hyundai Kona
- Mini Cooper SE
Discounts are not available for hybrid electric vehicles or second-hand vehicles, although the government expects the second-hand electric vehicle market to grow as more cars enter the country.
Emerald is on Queensland’s list of cities to receive an electric vehicle charging station. (ABC Capricornia: Alice Roberts)
Australia has been slow to adopt electric vehicles compared to other countries as the world tries to reduce global emissions. But recent increases in gasoline prices have inspired some motorists to consider electric vehicle options as they try to reduce their own carbon footprint.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the discount for Queensland electric vehicles is to offer Queenslanders a choice.
“Motorists see the rising costs of liquid fuels and the global supply challenges make it more important than ever to give this option to switch to an electric vehicle.”
According to the Electric Vehicle Council, an average electric car costs about $ 4 per 100 miles, compared to about $ 14 for every 100 miles of a standard gasoline vehicle.
Queensland has electric vehicle charging stations from Coolangatta to Cairns, but few options far from the coast. (ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)
De Brenni said the state government predicts that 50% of new car sales will be electric by 2030.
“We will support it by making sure we have the energy system that can withstand the charge and get these renewable electrons from our solar parks, from our wind farms to become motorcyclists’ cars.”