Electric Vehicle Owners Face Range Anxiety on Queensland's Inland Highways
When Jacki Whittaker purchased an electric SUV two years ago, she thought she had bid farewell to the dreaded "range anxiety" that plagues many new electric vehicle (EV) owners. However, a recent road trip through central western Queensland revealed a surprising challenge.
Ms. Whittaker and her family embarked on a journey, exploring attractions like the Longreach Stockman's Hall of Fame. The trip was seamless, with numerous charging stations along the way. Yet, a crucial realization struck when she needed to rent a petrol car for a funeral in Clermont, a three-hour drive from her home in Mackay.
The Peak Downs Highway, a vital route connecting the coalfields of the Bowen Basin to the coast, lacks dedicated EV charging points. This absence is a missed opportunity for the region's drive-tourism market, according to Ms. Whittaker.
The Queensland government's Electric Super Highway Program has successfully installed charging stations in central, western, and northwest Queensland. However, the Peak Downs Highway and parts of the Leichhardt Highway, particularly north of Miles in the Western Downs region, have been overlooked for public funding.
The Peak Downs Highway, bustling with diesel work vehicles and trucks transporting mining machinery, highlights the need for EV charging infrastructure. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed that no additional funding is committed for these areas.
Isaac Regional Council, which manages much of the Peak Downs Highway, has only two registered electric vehicle chargers in the coastal town of Clairview on the Bruce Highway. Since 2020, the council hasn't received any applications for privately run electric chargers.
While PlugShare advertises charging infrastructure in small communities like Clermont, these are not high-capacity, purpose-built chargers. The Electric Vehicle Council's Alina Dini emphasizes the growing necessity of commercial chargers in rural and remote areas.
Despite the availability of federal funding, the installation of EV chargers in these regions remains challenging. Dylan Jones, who owns a roadhouse on the Leichhardt Highway, faces the reality of limited energy sources to support high-voltage chargers. The northern section of the Leichhardt Highway is not part of Queensland's Electric Super Highway program.
Mr. Jones acknowledges the commercial viability concerns, as installing a charger would require significant out-of-pocket expenses for his small family business. However, Alina Dini believes that as the number of electric vehicle owners grows, smaller communities will find it more feasible to host chargers.
With high-powered chargers now available across Australia, the average electric vehicle range of 400 to 600 kilometers ensures that drivers will naturally need to stop and recharge.
