An electric vehicle highway in Queensland has been completed, stretching from Cairns to Coolangatta and west to Toowoomba.
The ‘Queensland Electric Super Highway’ (QESH) – according to transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey – is the “world’s longest electric vehicle super highway in a single state”.
17 fast-charging stations have been installed in Bowen, Cairns, Carmila, Childers, Gatton, Hamilton, Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta), Mackay, Marlborough, Maryborough, Miriam Vale, Rockhampton, Springfield, Sunshine Coast (Cooroy), Townsville, Toowoomba and Tully. A further station is planned for Helensvale.
“The QESH is a series of fast-charging electric vehicle stations that make it possible to drive an EV from the state’s southern border to the far north,” says Bailey.
"We knew our vision was ambitious, but this shift is happening around the world and unfortunately Australia is lagging behind.”
For the first 12 months the highway will be free to use, before fees come into play.
"To encourage the uptake and interest in electric vehicles, the fast-charging stations are available for use at no cost for the initial phase of the super highway,” says Bailey.
