The new charger is located out the back of the Bungendore Service Centre. Photo: ActewAGL.
It’s 148 km from Canberra to Batemans Bay, an easy jaunt for any electric vehicle on the market (except maybe the Mitsubishi iMiev).
But the issue is that 7723 battery-powered EVs are registered in the ACT (as of 29 April), and many of them will be heading to the beach come the first warmish wind in November — and there aren’t that many charging stations if you need a top-up.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has revealed plans to install “at least 100 to 175 public chargers” by 2030 when the area is expected to have between 10,000 and 20,000 EVs.
But at the moment, there are only four plugs in Braidwood – two at the Braidwood Servicemen’s Club & Golf Course and another two outside the Royal Mail Hotel.
The latter was thanks to a crowd-funding effort late last year, headed by Electric Vehicles Canberra (EVC) managing director Mark Hemmingsen. Locals raised more than $15,000 for the cause.
Mr Hemmingsen told Region in December that Braidwood was important, “based on my calculation for an old Nissan LEAF”, which would chew through about 24 kWh to ascend Clyde Mountain.
“You could have driven from the bay to Braidwood, but you would have been rolling into town pretty close to empty.”
The Clyde gives an EV more range on the way down through the car’s regenerative braking system but takes it away on the way back. Photo: Alex Rea.
The only other chargers on the route are in Batemans Bay, in the Village Centre car park.
But now there’s another option for those turning off the air-conditioning and biting their nails on drawing close to Canberra.
Electricity and gas retailer ActewAGL has opened Bungendore’s first public charging facility in the rear car park of the Bungendore Service Centre, just off the Kings Highway.
“Drivers are in for an efficient and convenient charging stop – whether they’re local and out and about enjoying cafes, shops and galleries, or visitors making their way to and from the coast,” ActewAGL retail general manager Rachael Turner said.
The new station can simultaneously charge two EVs and supports the full range of current models, including those from Tesla, BYD, Hyundai, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
For the tech heads, it’s a 75 kW DC fast charger with CCS2 and CHAdeMO plugs, capable of providing 75 km of range in 10 minutes.
It’s available on the Evie Networks platform so EV drivers can use it, provided they have the Evie card or app set up on their phones.
ActewAGL says the installation will help alleviate “the potential for range anxiety” on the busy route.
“With several more stations in planning, we’ll continue to provide accessible and convenient charging solutions to make EV ownership even more attractive,” Ms Turner said.
The new charger is open now.
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