NRMA launches three more EV chargers in remote Australia 

Due to be commissioned in the coming days, the new site is located on Chambers Drive in Katherine and consists of two 150kW-capable ABB Terra 184 chargers that can charge up to four EVs at a time.

Situated south of Darwin in the north en-route to Adelaide in the south, it is one of the most northerly of a string of 16 chargers planned for remote Australia, helping EV owners traverse one of the trickiest routes for electric vehicles in the country.

The Northern Territory sites are part of a funding partnership with the federal government worth $78.6 million to roll out a national EV charging network across the country, with an average of 150km between each charger.

“As EV uptake increases across Australia, drivers expect to be able to navigate our national highway network and find a charge with ease. The rollout of the new fast chargers in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs sees vital connections established and blackspots addressed,” said Irving-Dolan regarding the program.

“The NRMA knows the importance of connecting communities, whether it’s those from the city or the bush. With our expanding network of EV chargers, we are empowering people to move whenever, wherever they want to safely and confidently.” 

NRMA will add more sites along the route, including more off-grid EV chargers with solar panels and energy storage batteries such as the one at Erldunda that was first showcased during the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

This off-grid charger caught global attention after a video went viral on social media deriding the use of a backup diesel generator at the site.

However, as has been pointed out by the NRMA on TikTok and as far afield as USA Today, the diesel generator is purely a backup to ensure continuity of service. It also needs to be started up occasionally to ensure it is properly maintained and in operative condition.

Minister Bowen issued a statement regarding the new remote chargers, saying, “Our partnership with the NRMA along with our electric car discount is giving Aussie motorists more choice to buy an EV as their next car or use an EV for their next holiday in the outback or the city.”

The launch of the latest remote EV chargers comes at a time as the discussion about cleaning up Australia's transport emissions is reaching boiling point.

A proposal to introduce a legislated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard to reduce transport emissions has elicited divided views from key industry stakeholders.

The NRMA supports an NVES that will help Australia transition to clean transport, supporting all Australian governments' Net Zero 2050 commitments.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) last Wednesday issued a conservative stance, pushing back on the government-preferred policy option to reducing Australia transport-related carbon emissions by fining carmakers if they do not bring the average emissions of their new car sales down below headline targets.

The stance has been criticised by EV makers Tesla and Polestar, which on Thursday and Friday publicly announced they would exit the FCAI. On Monday, Volkswagen followed suit, saying “A strong NVES is in the best interests of this country."

Notably, Volkswagen has not yet started selling its range of ID electric cars locally. The ID.4 electric SUV and ID.5 electric coupe are set to arrive in July 2024.

Regardless of the form the NVES eventually takes, with the majority of global carmakers moving towards electrification, more EVs will hit the road in Australia over coming decades and with that, more need for charging infrastructure.

“Last year was a record year for EV charging installation in Australia and the national rollout will continue in 2024 with Australians hungry for more cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars,” says Bowen.

“With New Vehicle Efficiency Standards on the way, Australians can also look forward to getting more choice to save petrol, like people do overseas.”