Australians are embracing the electric vehicle (EV) trend in a big way. In 6 months, Queensland will be home to the world’s longest electric superhighway in a single state.
Located on the east coast of Australia, Queensland’s new EV highway will span 2,000 kilometers, or about 1,200 miles, and should cost the state nearly $3 million AUD—roughly $2.3 million USD. The highway plan’s authors hope to cut carbon emissions by bolstering support for electric vehicles, according to Environment Minister and Acting Main Roads Minister Steven Miles.
The superhighway will have a succession of 18 free, fast-charging EV stations, giving zero-emissions vehicles a reliable power source when travelling up and down the country’s east coast. Cars will fully charge within 30 minutes.
Stations will be established up and down Queensland’s coast, so to inspire EV purchases there.
“Once operational…[the project will] make it possible to drive an electric vehicle from the state’s southern border to the Far North,” said Miles. “[Charging ports] will be available for use at no cost for the initial phase of the super highway so we can encourage as many people as possible to start using them.”
What’s more, the energy that will be supplying these zero-emissions vehicle-charging stations will be totally “green” or renewable.
Tritium, a Brisbane-based charging station supplier, will produce most of the project's charging stations, according to Reuters, with Schneider Electric supplying the rest.
“This project is ambitious, but we want as many people as possible on board the electric vehicle revolution, as part of our transition to a low-emissions future," added Miles.
