How much do highway chargers influence your EV purchase poll.

[Blue heaven]

It's noticeable a few North Queenslanders are regular posters on the model 3 thread- Tesla Model 3 in Australia, it got me thinking that maybe the completion of the Brisbane to Cairns electric highway had heavily influenced the purchase of a Tesla for those living up that way.

 

[bay74]

I chose option 4 though it's not really right. I want to be able to travel effectively if I'm going to spend a huge amount of money on a car. Therefore there have to be fast "highway chargers". At the moment, only Tesla has a semi-decent (or bare minimum) coverage in Vic, so, I'm considering a Tesla or nothing. I mean, ONE non-metro fast-DC-charger site (Euroa) in the whole state?! Or is it two now, the one a bit north of Euroa opened perhaps? Whatever, totally impossible to drive anywhere else.

So, no DC fast-chargers, no EV.

 

[Mark E]

When I bought my S, there were no superchargers in Australia at all.

 

[Chuq]

The city car? I bought a Leaf for that. Doesn’t need public charging since I can get everything I need in my garage (although I do use public chargers on occasion, if for no other reason than to let the providers know they are being used!)
The other car? Well, it will need to be highway capable... in Tasmania that means a 350-450km range, which is about as far as you can go without falling off the edge... but it would be nice if there were enough fast chargers around that I could get away with a 200-300km range car for this.

 

[raynewman]

When I bought my S, there were no superchargers in Australia at all.

What about the Casino?

 

[Mark E]

What about the Casino?

In December 2014 the casino wasn’t open either, and we didn’t have portable chargers yet either - so charging options were very limited...
I only charged at home for the first month or so. I can’t remember exactly when the casino opened. Originally there was a destination charger there from memory.

 

[meloccom]

First time I charged at Star City Casino was 29th December 2014, the day I picked up the car as I was returning to the Southern Highlands were I was on holiday and wanted maximum range for a return trip. The only other charge point at the time was my garage in Potts Point.

 

[Mark E]

First time I charged at Star City Casino was 29th December 2014, the day I picked up the car as I was returning to the Southern Highlands were I was on holiday and wanted maximum range for a return trip. The only other charge point at the time was my garage in Potts Point.

Was that the supercharger? I didn't think they were operational when I got my car on the 17th.

 

[meloccom]

Was that the supercharger? I didn't think they were operational when I got my car on the 17th.

Yes they were, but you had to know how to get past the Valet Parking desk, to unlock the entrance to get to the Superchargers.

 

[Mark E]

Yes they were, but you had to know how to get past the Valet Parking desk, to unlock the entrance to get to the Superchargers.

Fair enough. To be honest, I never used the Casino supercharger at all.

 

[WA-T3sla]

I think cars charging publicly (not highway charging) are doing EV adoption a disservice. It gives people the perception that these cars are tethered to a charging cable and heightens their range anxiety when thinking of an EV.

 

[dalec]

It didn't influence *whether* I would buy an EV but it did influence *which* EV I chose. I'd say it was a 20% factor. I don't drive long distances often, but when I do, simple fact is Telsa is the only viable choice. So if I picked another brand, at least in the short term I'd have to hire a fossil car for road trips.

 

[raynewman]

It didn't influence *whether* I would buy an EV but it did influence *which* EV I chose. I'd say it was a 20% factor. I don't drive long distances often, but when I do, simple fact is Telsa is the only viable choice. So if I picked another brand, at least in the short term I'd have to hire a fossil car for road trips.

When I got my Tesla there weren't any Tesla highway chargers either. Brisbane -> Sydney was at least two days with an overnight at the Observatory to charge. There was no UMC either; I got mine as a present from a kindly Tesla man after he saw my car on a flatbed cause I was about to run out of electrons.

Chargers or lack thereof had no input to my decision to buy a Tesla; it was simply the superior tech!

 

[Shock-On-T]

I got my car with only the Port Mac supercharger between Syd-Bne, it's been fun watching the expansion and seeing my car's horizons broaden.
Supercharging is very important to me, and I will stick with Tesla for that reason.

 

[paulp]

My favourite charger isnt a supercharger rather the destination charger at adelaide airport. I dont do road trips but do fly on day trips.....quite a bit, and at the airport there are two dedicated tesla bays right next to the entry on the departure level. Nice all day free charge when on my day trips, which offsets the hideous airport parking fees nicely.

 

[houdini]

I chose option 4 though it's not really right. I want to be able to travel effectively if I'm going to spend a huge amount of money on a car. Therefore there have to be fast "highway chargers". At the moment, only Tesla has a semi-decent (or bare minimum) coverage in Vic, so, I'm considering a Tesla or nothing. I mean, ONE non-metro fast-DC-charger site (Euroa) in the whole state?! Or is it two now, the one a bit north of Euroa opened perhaps? Whatever, totally impossible to drive anywhere else.

So, no DC fast-chargers, no EV.

Agree with this. All our EV choices are so expensive that they can’t be town cars only. The ionic is $65K, the Leaf the same. $60K for a Zoe. More for a Kona. Crazy money for a car that you can only travel around town on so the supercharger network makes the Tesla the only choice. I hate to say it but if the Model 3 comes in too expensive I am going to buy an ICE as I need a car that can provide the commute and take the family away on holiday 700km’s away.

 

[Chuq]

if the Model 3 comes in too expensive I am going to buy an ICE as I need a car that can provide the commute and take the family away on holiday 700km’s away.

Won’t the Kona (or if you wait until next year, the Kia Niro) combined with the Chargefox network do this?

 

[bay74]

Won’t the Kona (or if you wait until next year, the Kia Niro) combined with the Chargefox network do this?

Hehe. Well, maybe in some places, like near routes between state capitals - one day (I’m not holding my breath). At the moment, nowhere but north-east Vic.

But with the Model 3 one could go to those Chargefox places as well as everywhere with Superchargers. To me the Tesla option therefore just seems like so much better value if it costs “just” a few thousand more.

 

[matsoutback]

Definitely hoping we will get some super charging north of Brisbane some time, I mean further than Gympie. I would like to be able to get to Mackay at least.

 

[aegidius]

north of Brisbane some time, I mean further than Gympie.

A Model 3 natively, and an S/X with the CCS adapter, can use the Qld electric hwy all the way to Cairns. Sure it's only 50kW charging but at 200km/h (or a bit more for the 3) it's not bad. Once better chargers come in the cars can charge at supercharger (120kW) rates.