Queensland’s EV super highway expands to 44 charging stations

The second phase of Queensland’s EV super highway is currently being rolled out, with an additional 13 new stations added in crucial areas.

Queensland electric vehicle (EV) drivers will soon have the ability to drive across the entire east coast of the state with ease as the second stage of the electric super highway nears completion.

The charging network is built by Australian company Chargefox, which constructed 31 charging stations spanning from Coolangatta to Cairns in phase one of the program.

Chargefox's station at Horsham completes the rapid-charging superhighway — The electric superhighway built by Chargefox is nearing completion in Queensland

Phase two involved an additional 13 50kW fast charging stations designed to extend the reach of the network north to Port Douglas, while filling in gaps between existing stations.

Construction progress for the new 50kW fast charging stations has been rapid, with the only stations yet to be completed the more city-focused Forest Glen, North Lakes, Springwood and Ipswich stations.

Chargefox's national network — The 50kW stations in Queensland are complemented by a fast charging network that stretches from Brisbane to Adelaide

The expanded network will make it possible for more affordable short-range EVs to travel further afield in Queensland confidently. The longest stretch between any two stations is just 165km, with that gap lying between Cardwell and Townsville.

For context, an electric car charging at a rate of 50kW can recharge 100km of range after around 30 minutes of charging. Although this timing can vary depending on the size of the battery and will be slower if the conditions are colder.

Queensland powers the charging stations using green energy, but the juice that recharges your battery may not necessarily come directly from renewable sources.

Chargefox's 350kw chargers — Queensland plans to get 50 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030

Currently, the Queensland government either offsets the environmental impact in other areas, or purchases ‘green energy credits’ – a process where renewable energy ‘credits’ can be purchased for one area despite the power physically being generated, and used, in another.

Queensland supplied 20 per cent of its electric grid with renewable energy in 2020, and plans to expand that number to 50 per cent by 2030 through the use of additional renewable sources such as solar and wind.

Chargefox CEO Marty Andrews at a rapid charging station — Chasing Cars previously spoke to Chargefox CEO Marty Andrews who estimated that the Brisbane to Adelaide fast charging network would be complete by the end of 2020

The 50kW fast-charging stations will complement the growing network of ultra-rapid 350kW fast chargers that will create a superhighway from Brisbane, through Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide.

Chargefox CEO Marty Andrews told Chasing Cars last year that the 350kW Adelaide – Brisbane coastal network was likely to be completed by 2020, but construction remains underway on chargers at Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.

Update: Chargefox has since explained to Chasing Cars that the delays were due to strict border restrictions slowing down construction but the network will be completed by the end of Summer.