The use of electric vehicles (EVs) remains to gain ground in the Australian market, however, one of the main challenges of sustaining the EV industry in Australia is the absence of sufficient charging stations.
Earlier this year, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency awarded AU$24.55 million to help with the deployment of more than 400 public fast-charging stations dedicated to EVs, increasing the existing number of charging stations by seven times.
The public stations will be set up across eight geographical regions, covering 14 of the most populous cities in Australia. Each of the 50 kW charging stations is capable of charging a minimum of two vehicles at a time.
While it might seem like a distant dream at present, electric vehicle expert Bryce Gaton said it may not take so long until the grey nomads use electric vehicles to haul their huge vans across remote Australia.
If that happens, caravan parks will be the best option to house charging stations.
Stuart Lamont, CEO of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia is calling for grants for caravan parks as well as other regional lodging providers to invest in EV charging stations.
“Drive tourism accounts for 75% of all tourism in regional areas, charging infrastructure and activating the accommodation sector to install charging points will be crucial to help a long-term regional tourism recovery,” he said. “Caravan parks around Australia are ideally placed, and sometimes the only accommodations in region, to provide EV charging points to travelers,” Lamont said.
Lamont stated that this would be an excellent opportunity to allow the government to aid in the long-term rebuilding of tourism in the region following the devastating past 20-months and to help facilitate the transition to electric vehicles for communities in the region that rely on driving tourism.
“Regional tourism’s biggest barrier is access, and with 2,000 caravan parks around Australia, all with the space to add EV chargers, the government should utilize this,” he said. “We know that EV owners base their road trip holidays on where they can charge their vehicle.” Lamont ended.
