Electric vehicle charging stations have been installed at Townsville and Carmila, creating an ‘electric super highway’ between Coolangatta and Cairns in Queensland.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said with these two charging stations are part of the initial phase of the Queensland Electric Super Highway (QESH).
“We now have the world’s longest electric vehicle super highway in a single state stretching all the way up our beautiful eastern coastline,” Mr. Bailey said.
“This is literally electrifying news for Queenslanders and just one example of the innovative and strategic direction this state continues to take.”
Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke said she was pleased to learn the charger in her electorate was now online.
“The Palaszczuk Government first announced the QESH in June 2017, and just over six months later, with the completion of chargers at Townsville and Carmila, it is now possible for Queenslanders with EVs to drive from Coolangatta to Cairns using our infrastructure,” she said.
“This is great news for electric vehicle users across Queensland.”
Fast-charging stations have been installed in Bowen, Cairns, Carmila, Childers, Gatton, Hamilton, Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta), Mackay, Marlborough, Maryborough, Miriam Vale, Rockhampton, Springfield, Sunshine Coast (Cooroy), Townsville, Toowoomba and Tully.
The next charger expected to come online will be at Helensvale, and will be operational after the Commonwealth Games.
Mr. Bailey said the government has a vision to encourage the uptake of EVs in Queensland as part of a transition to a low emissions future.
He said it was the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to expand the QESH and continue rolling out charging stations across the state’s vast road network as part of ‘The Future is Electric: Queensland’s Electric Vehicle Strategy’, the first of its kind in Australia.
“The QESH is a series of fast-charging electric vehicle stations that make it possible to drive an EV from the state’s southern border to the far north,” he said
“We knew our vision was ambitious, but this shift is happening around the world and unfortunately Australia is lagging behind. We want Queensland to be at the forefront of these changes.
“To encourage the uptake and interest in electric vehicles, the fast-charging stations are available for use at no cost for the initial phase of the super highway.”
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