The Gold Coast is installing fast electric vehicle chargers over a 50km citywide radius to anchor Queensland’s electric superhighway.
The city is stepping up its green credentials by installing a network of 10 RTM75 charging stations by Brisbane technology company Tritium.
The charging stations will run from Pimpama on the northern edge of the Gold Coast to Coolangatta and are offset by solar power generation. The 75kW technology is 50 per cent faster than standard 50kW charging stations and capable of charging two vehicles at once.
Each 75kW fast charger will deliver 75km of range to an electric vehicle within 10 minutes of charging.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the investment in EV infrastructure reflected the city’s reputation as an innovative destination as well as its commitment to sustainability.
“As the transition to electric vehicles begins to pick up pace, we have secured the most advanced DC fast chargers on the market,’’ Tate said.
“The power used to charge vehicles at these stations will be offset by power generated by the City’s Virtual Power Plant, which harnesses solar energy from more than 47 city buildings.
“The network would provide drivers with a rapid, positive recharge experience and would deliver a boost for local businesses as electric vehicle drivers stayed an average of 30 per cent longer than other travellers to return to recharge and engage with the local area,” he said.
The fast charger network, supported by the State Government’s COVID Works for Queensland jobs booster that helps fund new infrastructure projects, will anchor the Queensland Electric Super Highway of 31 fast charging sites enabling travel from Coolangatta to Cairns and from Brisbane west to Toowoomba in a low or zero-emissions electric vehicle.
Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles said the Queensland Government had provided $350,000 towards the charging stations, to provide a boost to the local economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Having charging stations along the Gold Coast not only incentivises future EV users, but it also encourages driving tourism along a beautiful stretch of the Coast,” Miles said.
It would be great if all levels of government also incentivised the uptake of EV’s through fast-tracking the transition of their fleets and encouraging big business to do the same, supporting the local manufacturing and assembly of EV’s, enshrining a committment not to impose additional user taxes on EV drivers and offering carbon offset credits, similar to the solar incentivisation scheme, and other benefits for EV owners.