RAC’s ultra-fast charging station powers ahead

A new ultra-rapid charging station that provides EV drivers with up to 400km of range in less than 15 minutes has been switched on at RAC’s head office in West Perth.

In partnership with Chargefox, the two chargers installed at the site in February now boost power to 350kW and are available available 24/7 to all EV and hybrid drivers.

It’s the latest addition to the RAC Electric Highway, which was launched in 2015 in partnership with local governments and has 12 locations between Perth and Augusta with publicly accessible fast and ultra-rapid charging points.

RAC’s Will Golsby said the new charging infrastructure was another step towards cleaner transport in WA.

“The new ultra-rapid charging station is the first of its kind in Perth and our fastest yet,” he said.

“We know there’s an appetite for electric and hybrid cars in Western Australia, with a recent survey showing nearly one in two of our members would consider purchasing one as their next car.

“But cost, range anxiety and access to charging infrastructure remain the biggest barriers to the uptake of EVs.

“We hope further investment in charging infrastructure across Western Australia will drive greater uptake of low and zero-emission vehicles, and support the transition to cleaner and more sustainable transport.”

New research by insurance company Budget Direct reveals nine epic road trips that are possible with an EV that has a 480km range, including the Nullarbor crossing, from Kalgoorlie to the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia.

Calculating a 1746km journey, it found eight charging points within 3.8km of the route, estimating that a car would need four charges.

From Perth to Esperance, Budget Direct said it found 58 charging points, with most cars requiring three charges for the round trip.

Between Perth and Exmouth, it used a distance of 1205km and found 46 charging points, and between Broome and Cairns, it found 10 charging points.

Electric Vehicle Council figures show Australia has 2307 public charging stations — an increase of 40 per cent in 12 months.