Queensland Electric Highway

[Vostok]

On that note, what are caravan parks attitudes towards powered camp sites and EVs generally? I imagine some wouldn't be too happy if you used 50kWh over a one night stay!

I charged recently at a remote pub overnight for 15 hours on a 15A caravan socket (although my Gen 2 UMC maxes out at 12A using the 15A tail). Before I checked in the owner said I’d be charged $10 to plug in. When I checked out and asked had he added in the $10 for charging (because I was going to offer $20) he said “nah mate it’s fine”.

Just tell people what you are going to do and most are chill about it!

 

[moa999]

And I suspect in the hot summer months a few of those mega caravans are using 15A for their a/C and fridges all night without any excess charge other than a powered site.

 

[possum22]

I charged my Model S at Normamaton Van Pk 14 hrs @15A 47 kWh added, was in May'19 for $20, camped in a tent in powered site, I told the owners I was charging an EV, no problem.

 

[WoodWombat]

I charged my Model S at Normamaton Van Pk 14 hrs @15A 47 kWh added, was in May'19 for $20, camped in a tent in powered site, I told the owners I was charging an EV, no problem.

Another interesting thing that I have noticed after talking to a number of different caravan parks. They have all been happy to have any number of people (e.g. club trip) pulling 15A continuously. That is their electrical setup is appropriately sized for all of these 15A pillars, each with their own tiny sub-board.

Normanton Qld appears to be on the grid. I would wonder whether this applies in Bamaga or Birdsville where there is no grid.

 

[moa999]

And Longreach has popped up on Plugshare and the Chargefox app

Teamster's Rest | Longreach, QLD | EV Station

QESH Longreach (1) CHAdeMO 75kW (1) CCS2 75kW (2) Type 2 22kW Use Chargefox app

www.plugshare.com

 

[Chuq]

And Longreach has popped up on Plugshare and the Chargefox app

Teamster's Rest | Longreach, QLD | EV Station

QESH Longreach (1) CHAdeMO 75kW (1) CCS2 75kW (2) Type 2 22kW Use Chargefox app

www.plugshare.com

Now that’s one that you expect they would have opened simultaneously with others along the route!

 

[moa999]

And weeks later Longreach officially opened.

https://www.facebook.com/1000578961...hYo6H5BqS2PxVfbgS9EQ147bR3coAB8pa2l/?sfnsn=mo

 

[Stratman]

Now that’s one that you expect they would have opened simultaneously with others along the route!

Indeed! Certainly a bit hard to actually get to that new charger in Longreach in a timely manner

 

[technerdx6000]

Indeed! Certainly a bit hard to actually get to that new charger in Longreach in a timely manner

Hopefully it does mean infill chargers are not far off though

 

[Vostok]

Certainly a bit hard to actually get to that new charger in Longreach in a timely manner

A single check-in on Plugshare!

 

[WoodWombat]

Indeed! Certainly a bit hard to actually get to that new charger in Longreach in a timely manner

Rockhampton to Longreach is 687km, assuming a safe range of 350km for a Model 3 without any hypermiling, you need to charge 337km so 4 hours to make that leg. Get up early, drive to Emerald for breakfast and have a long breakfast, then on to Barcaldine or Alpha for a long lunch. Hypermiling techniques would increase time on the road but decrease time sitting around potentially boring charge sites.

I guess that another option would be to overnight in Emerald and then have no stress at all.

As you say, not exactly timely transport. The sooner that the chargers open in Emerald and Barcaldine, the better!

Phase 3 of the QESH has always surprised me for its lack of support for the standard around Australia route. Cairns to Normanton to Cloncurry is not exactly supported for example. Oh well, take those legs easy and do it old-school 3 phase.

I am excited to see a Cybertruck with 800km range speed running around the country.

 

[gm12]

The phase 3 rollout seems to be taking forever. So far longreach, which is to far from any other charger, and therefore has only 1 check in since opening. What's up?

 

[technerdx6000]

I've heard charging sites are ridiculously hard to set up and site locations are very hard to find. This is from Tesla and Evie. I imagine QESH is running into the same issues. Still no excuse now, there needs to be legislation passed to create a process for finding locations and installing these chargers in a straightforward manner.

There is a charger part of phase 3 in Charters Towers now. Its not open yet, but there are pictures on plugshare.

 

[moa999]

Locations is hard enough.
Not many people willing to rent out 30-45m² of parking (why both Tesla and the others have gone to a lot of councils).

But you also need power infrastructure close by, and spare power at that location.
Otherwise the costs in trenching and infrastructure quickly make a site unviable.

It's the latter costs from the grid operators
(Plus in at least a few cases the tariff plan that they allocate to the site) that need to be looked at

 

[moa999]

The phase 3 rollout seems to be taking forever.

Stuff takes time.
Compared to the SA rollout - first announced two years ago, Nothing open yet, Yurika Phase 3 is doing well.

 

[cafz]

I've heard charging sites are ridiculously hard to set up and site locations are very hard to find. This is from Tesla and Evie. I imagine QESH is running into the same issues.

QESH at least is owned by Yurika, which is part of Energy Queensland alongside all the Queensland DNSPs. You'd think they'd have the least problems of anyone.

 

[raffdog]

I've heard charging sites are ridiculously hard to set up and site locations are very hard to find. This is from Tesla and Evie. I imagine QESH is running into the same issues. Still no excuse now, there needs to be legislation passed to create a process for finding locations and installing these chargers in a straightforward manner.

There is a charger part of phase 3 in Charters Towers now. Its not open yet, but there are pictures on plugshare.

They also need legislation stating that if the charging site has two or less chargers they must be at least 150kw.

 

[positiv]

They also need legislation stating that if the charging site has two or less chargers they must be at least 150kw.

Agree. These 50kW/75kW single stalls are short sighted and will cause problems.

 

[cafz]

They also need legislation stating that if the charging site has two or less chargers they must be at least 150kw.

I strongly disagree. The choice is not between a single 50kW charger and a single 150kW charger: it's between a single 50kW charger and nothing, and I'd much rather the former.

 

[Gareth Oakes]

I strongly disagree. The choice is not between a single 50kW charger and a single 150kW charger: it's between a single 50kW charger and nothing, and I'd much rather the former.

Precisely. You wouldn't want to legislate away the chance to even have a 50kW charger. 150kW means you need guaranteed supply of 215A per phase, which may be unobtainable in many locations. It also means a much higher grade of installation which I'm assuming further erodes the viability of the site.
I think the point about 150kW is a good one though as it illustrates that our electrical infrastructure continues to severely lag against the uptake of EVs.