29 March 2021

Electric car charging stations set for Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Braidwood

| Michael Weaver
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electric vehicle charging station

File photo of electric vehicle charging stations.

With the ACT’s transition to a zero-emissions plan for all vehicles, Canberra’s cousins over the border in Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Braidwood are catching up with plans to install electric vehicle charging stations there.

A spokesperson from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) told Region Media consideration is being given to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of the Council’s master plans for Bungendore and Queanbeyan.

An electric vehicle charging station is also earmarked for Braidwood.

READ ALSO The best places to buy electric cars in Canberra

Once complete, the EV charging stations will allow motorists to travel between Canberra and Batemans Bay with the knowledge that a charging station is close by.

The QPRC spokesperson said while electric vehicle charging stations are still very much in the concept stage, there was at least one comment requesting consideration be given to electric vehicle charging points in the public exhibition period for the car parking strategies for Queanbeyan and Bungendore.

“Comments on the recently exhibited concept design plans for a new off-street car park in Bungendore have not yet been presented to Council, however we can advise that more than 40 submissions were received, many of which responded positively to the question, “Do you think the car park should include toilet facilities, smart lighting, electric vehicle charging stations etc?” the spokesperson said.

“The Bungendore car park is only at the concept design stage. Any new car parks proposed in the Queanbeyan CBD Spatial Master Plan are yet to move to the design stage. The number and location of EV charging stations will be considered in the future.”

In Queanbeyan, multi-storey car parks are being proposed in the CBD. Each would include electric vehicle charging stations, smart lighting, smart parking, WiFi and CCTV.

In Bungendore, a report on the community consultation should go back to Council in the coming months. The off-street parking area is intended to also accommodate additional usage other than traditional car parking such as a community market space. It is also likely to include electric vehicle charging stations, WiFi, CCTV, smart lighting and other technology.

In Braidwood, a December 2018 Council meeting saw Council agree to allow the NRMA to install an electric vehicle charging station as part of any future car park redevelopment. The station would provide charging facilities for two car parking spaces.

Minister Shane Rattenbury charging an electric car at the launch of the new West Belconnen charging station. Photo: Supplied.

Two new electric vehicle charging stations were unveiled on 26 August as part of the ACT Government’s transition to a zero-emissions fleet. Three more are located over the border at Queanbeyan, Wamboin and Gundaroo.

The new Canberra stations, located at the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre building in Holt, are part of a growing ACT Government fleet network of 46 charging stations that will be fully operational in the next few weeks, with more stations set to be installed in 2020.

“By 2020 the ACT will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, after which time our biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions – at over 60 per cent – will come from transport,” Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said.

“At a time of climate emergency, the ACT is proudly putting our climate first. As we move away from a reliance on fossil fuels, we’re leading by example in transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles.”

Zero emissions vehicles cause less air and noise pollution, have lower running costs, don’t incur stamp duty and receive a 20 per cent discount on registration fees.

There are over 330 privately registered EVs in the ACT including 90 plug-in hybrids. These owners have access to 29 public charging stations located across the region, one of the highest concentrations of EV vehicle charging stations in the country.

The NRMA has also committed $10 million to build Australia’s largest fast-charging network to support the electrification of the transport sector in NSW and the ACT.

NRMA Chief Investment Officer Rachel Wiseman said motorists are worried about where their next charge will be, particularly outside of capital cities.

“The NRMA is committed to delivering a solution to ‘range anxiety’, by installing an extensive network of electric vehicle fast chargers right across NSW and the ACT. Our aim is that 95 per cent of EV journeys are within 150 kilometres of one of our charging stations,” Ms Wiseman said.

The average cost of running a car on liquid fuel is $1.50 per litre, while the average cost of running an electric vehicle is $0.33. EVs also require far less maintenance, which equates to significant cost benefits for motorists.

Tesla superchargers for electric cars at the Goulburn Visitor’s Centre. Photo: Supplied.

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No mention of how long it takes for a charge. Wonder why!

I am in no hurry, but know I will buy an electric vehicle when the reliable range is of the order of 1000 kms (750 kms when towing a 600 kg trailer). Looking at the improvements in electric power tools over recent times I suspect that day is not too far away.

Capital Retro6:23 pm 09 Sep 19

Pricing of Mitsubishi hybrid AWD (not really meant to be a substitute for a 4WD)
Outlander PHEV ES – $45,990
Outlander PHEV Exceed – $53,990
All prices exclude on-road costs.

Capital Retro2:20 pm 09 Sep 19

Labor offered no subsidy but there was a depreciation incentive for fleet buyers:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/01/50-of-new-cars-to-be-electric-vehicles-by-2030-under-labor-climate-change-policy

We sure dodged a bullet when Labor lost the election though.

I am really looking forward to electric cars eventually getting cheaper to buy and my driving habits are well suited for them.

However they are currently getting a bit of a free ride as a significant amount of our fuel price is various taxes, some of which are not being paid by electric cars.

Over time, if electric cars become popular, the amount of money raised from motorists will decrease and the government will have to look at alternative ways of obtaining it.

Some sort of usage tax where people pay X cents per km their vehicle travels seems fair (but of course unpopular with owners of electric vehicles), but I’d guess difficult to administer.

“Remember Labor and the Greens’ plan to force 50% of electric cars within two years? It was part of “climate change” so comprehensively rejected by the voters. Now we know why. “

Care to actually back that up with a link John. It is absolute baloney.

Labor’s plan was to aim for 50% of new vehicles to be sold in 2030 to be electric vehicles.

Not force anyone in two years to be 50% of anything.

Free for people to voice their opinion, but leave the bulls**** at the door please.

A Nonny Mouse2:50 pm 09 Sep 19

This is nonsense and propaganda. The Labor plan was for 50% of NEW car sales in 2030 to be electric. The Libs’ plan was for 25-50% of new sale electric by 2030, not so different.

Capital Retro10:25 am 09 Sep 19

“Here’s an example of a big Tesla supercharger station”

You mean the one at Goulburn Visitors’ Centre in the image? Where are the EVs?

Capital Retro7:44 am 09 Sep 19

So, how much does the battery cost to replace and if it isn’t recycled into a home solar system what happens to it? A new home solar battery costs about $12,000 so would an EV owner will expect to pay the same for a replacement? If that is the case it would not be economical to keep the car. Has an EV actually travelled 1,250,000 km?

Few people buy a “performance cars” so what is the point in getting a Tesla that gets from 0 kmh to 100 kmh in 1.9 seconds?

A Nonny Mouse2:53 pm 09 Sep 19

I know examples of Chevy Volts in the USA have travelled many hundreds of thousands of miles with little or no battery degradation. The crucial thing seems to be excellent temperature control of the battery.

Capital Retro4:14 pm 09 Sep 19

Indeed, one hybrid Volt has been reported to have covered over 750,000 kms with the original battery still in good shape. Bear in mind that the Volt cost 3 times as much as the GM Cruze which it was modelled on so I would expect that sort of endurance too.

I have an 18 year old 4WD which has exceeded 300,000 kms and is still going strong with no major mechanical repairs. When an EV version of my 4WD is offered at about $60,000 I will be interested.

rationalobserver5:44 pm 08 Sep 19

In this rush of blood, what is being done to ensure that EV mileage contributes an equivalent amount to roads & road maintenance as the fuel excise paid by traditional motorists?
Who pays for the “zero emission” power used by these charging stations and what guarantee do we have that the power used does not originate from a coal fired power station in the first place?

Chris Williams6:02 am 09 Sep 19

Only 50% of fuel excise goes towards roads. The rest goes into general revenue. Perhaps the rest should go towards pubic health costs arisen from vehicle emissions.
For now some of the slow chargers are free but fast chargers in other countries are swipe and charge or you have an account like the Tesla charging network. Yes some of the chargers may be powered by a % of Aussie coal. A petrol car is powered by mostly Saudi oil. Currently the supply of which is a cause of great tension and military intervention.

Capital Retro10:23 am 09 Sep 19

If you insist on dragging geopolitics into the debate, how do you feel about hugely subsidised Teslas being made in the USA where the hated Donald Trump is the leader?

Capital Retro10:08 am 08 Sep 19

“EVs also require far less maintenance, which equates to significant cost benefits for motorists.”

EV owners are constantly saying how quick off the mark their EVs are. This will mean rapid tyre wear and subsequent cost. Also, I will again pose the question “how long will the battery last and how much to replace it. Will there be fitting costs and will there be a disposal cost”.

Amortise that and see how it distorts that .33c per equivalent litre cost.

Chris Williams6:22 am 09 Sep 19

Tyres will only wear out proportionally to how your right foot behaves. Would you buy any performance car and criticize it for wearing out tyres? A well designed and used battery will last 5000 charges. (70%DOD) At 250km per charge thats 1,250,000 km. When an EV battery does loose capacity it will make a great power storage for a house with solar.

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