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NRMA Opens South Coast Route to EVs

15 August 2019
Group gathers for NRMA Electric Vehicle Charger launch in Bega
Crowd gathered for launch of 20th EV charger in Bega

The NRMA has reached a key milestone in Bega today with the launch of its 20th Electric Vehicle Fast Charging station, marking the halfway point in its $10 million commitment to build one of Australia’s largest fast charging networks across NSW and the ACT.

The charger has opened the entire South Coast to EV tourists for the first time. This charger will now allow routes from Sydney all the way to the Victorian border, which until now has not been possible via public chargers. 

The fast charger will allow most EV motorists to fully charge their cars in about 30 minutes. Standard public EV chargers take between three and six hours, and traditional power outlets can take more than 12 hours.

The station has been installed at Bega Shire Valley Council’s centrally located car park at 81 Gipps Street, one block from the town’s main street.

The Bega charging station is the 20th of the NRMA’s electric vehicle fast charging stations to open to the public across the state, following Sydney Olympic Park, Wallsend near Newcastle, Jindabyne, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, Mittagong in the Southern Highlands, Narrandera, Berry, Young, West Wyalong, Bathurst, Parkes, Dubbo, Nabiac, Tamworth, Batemans Bay, Orange, Glen Innes, Grafton and Byron Bay.

 

 

 

NRMA Executive General Manager Motoring Nell Payne said the Bega charger completed the Sydney to South Coast connection for EV motorists.

“At the NRMA we are very serious about ensuring the needs of tomorrow’s motorist are met before tomorrow comes. We know one of the key reasons electric vehicle uptake has been relatively slow in Australia so far is because of ‘range anxiety’, so we’re building this extensive network of chargers to safeguard against that happening,” Ms Payne said.

“Our network connects motorists from Sydney to the south coast via chargers at Berry and Batemans Bay, and now at Bega, completing the connective route for the region. Our aim is that 95 per cent of Member journeys are within 150 kilometres of one of our charging stations.

“We also know that regional economies thrive when regional tourism thrives, but the future of the motoring holiday is changing and the NRMA is committed to making sure the right infrastructure is in place so that local communities aren’t left behind.

“That’s also one of the reasons why we’re building this extensive network of fast charging stations to help drive EV motorists into great towns like Bega, where they can safely and efficiently charge their cars while enjoying local amenities and hopefully, help make an injection into local economies,” Ms Payne said.

NRMA’s charging stations will use power from renewable sources, whether it is generated directly on site, or via agreement with our energy supplier. 

When charged from standard grid power, EVs have a carbon footprint that is at least as efficient as equivalent petrol vehicles. This is before we consider that many EV owners will also have solar and battery solutions installed at home, so they can recharge for free with zero emissions end to end. 

 

We anticipate the relative benefits of EVs will increase significantly over time as the rapid pace of battery innovation continues and renewables account for a greater proportion of electricity generation.