Queensland Electric Super Highway ready

The initial phase of the Queensland Electric Super Highway (QESH) is now complete, allowing motorists to drive electric vehicles (EVs) all the way from Coolangatta to Cairns, and west to Toowoomba.

First announced in mid-2017 and completed last week with the installation of charging stations at Townsville and Carmila, the first stage of the QESH is claimed to be the world's longest EV highway in a single state.

"We now have the world's longest electric vehicle super highway in a single state, stretching all the way up our beautiful eastern coastline," said Queensland transport minister Mark Bailey today.

"This is literally electrifying news for Queenslanders and just one example of the innovative and strategic direction this state continues to take."

Fast-charging stations have now 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 on the Gold Coast, and will be operational after this year's Commonwealth Games.

Bailey said the Palaszczuk government plans to expand the QESH by rolling out further charging stations across Queensland's vast road network in order to encourage the uptake of EVs in the state.

"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 EVs, the Queensland government's fast-charging stations are available for use at no cost for the initial phase of the super highway. It's not clear when the free charging offer ends, nor how much the fast-chargers will cost after that.

However, all of the power supplied by the fast-charging stations is green energy bought through green energy credits or offsets, making the super-highway "a carbon friendly, pollutant free transport option".

According to the Queensland government, an EV recharged by 100 per cent solar power can save 3.8 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually when compared to a traditional, internal combustion vehicle (driving 15,000km per year).

"EVs provide not only a reduced fuel cost for Queenslanders, but an environmentally-friendly transport option, particularly when charged from renewable energy," said Bailey.

"The driving range of electric vehicles and local network capacity were taken into account in mapping the network, so the charging stations could be connected without significant additional infrastructure costs.

"The sites were chosen so that while people recharge their EV they can also take a break to stop, revive and survive."

These include "convenient, safe locations close to major highways where there are existing amenities such as cafes, restaurants and shops".

"The sites have been identified to allow motorists to easily charge their vehicle and have a short break during their journey, allowing them to prepare for a safe journey," said the Queensland government.

It added that the type of charging connections chosen support the majority of EV models currently available in Australia and are recognised as industry standard around the world.

For standard AC charging, EV drivers will use their own charging cable or adapter that supports the Mennekes socket, while drivers using DC fast-charging will use the cables attached to the charger.

Some makes and models, for example Tesla vehicles, will need to use adaptors to connect to the charging stations.

So far in Australia, fast-charging stations have been limited to shopping centres - such as the 40 at 10 Westfield locations being being rolled out with BMW in NSW, Victoria and Queensland - and the Tesla Supercharger network.

The latter, which is free to some Tesla owners and claimed to eventually become off-grid, battery-powered and self-sustainable, currently comprises 18 stations between Adelaide and Brisbane, with a further 17 planned.

Fast-charging times are dependent on the vehicle and its battery but, for reference, Tesla claims its Superchargers provide up to 120kW of power and 270km of driving range in 30 minutes.

So far there are fewer than 10,000 EVs on Australian roads, but that number is expected by some experts to swell to more than 35,000 by 2024.