Charging boost for QLD’s Electric Super Highway

New charging stations will be installed across western Queensland, as a part of the next phase of the Queensland Electric Super Highway.

The Queensland Electric Super Highway currently provides 31 fast-charging sites, connecting Queenslanders and tourists travelling from Coolangatta to Port Douglas, and from Brisbane to Toowoomba in a low or zero emission vehicle.

The extension of the Super Highway was announced in June 2021, with new charging stations to form part of a three-phase rollout.

Phase three of the Electric Super Highway had already been allocated $2.75 million to build 18 sites at Charters Towers, Hughenden, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Emerald, Dingo, Charleville, Roma, Miles, Kingaroy and Esk.

An additional $1.08 million has now been secured to deliver six more charging stations at Richmond, Kynuna, Injune, Rolleston, St George and Cunnamulla.

Once complete, the Electric Super Highway will consist of 55 fast-charging sites across the state and will complement Queensland’s new Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy 2022-2032 released 16 March 2022, which committed $10 million for charging infrastructure across Queensland.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said between 2018 and 30 April 2022, more than 55,000 Queensland Electric Super Highway charging sessions were logged, saving between 1148-1347 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to similar light petrol or diesel vehicles.

“This is the equivalent of removing 391 petrol or diesel vehicles from Queensland roads,” he said. “Over the past few years, the number of EVs has skyrocketed from as low as 700 to nearly 9000, and I want to see this number continue to rise.”

Phase 3 works are expected to start from mid-2022 with all 24 sites expected to become progressively operational by mid-2023.

For more information on the Electric Super Highway, click here.

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