Well it's been a long time since I updated this thread, but we now have all EHT sites (6x as mentioned in the previous post) active.
There were certainly enough for the Tas Government to hold an event in February announcing the network as "complete" - that is, there are enough DC fast chargers at a close enough gap that any *new* EV can get between them.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein officially opens state-wide fast and ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging network capable of ensuring mid-range EVs can travel almost anywhere across the state where there is a bitumen road.
thedriven.io
(Note, a bit of confusion by the writer of that article between "the Tasmanian electric vehicle fast charging network" which is what the Tas Government calls the collection of all fast chargers (14 at the time), most of which were funded by them, and "Electric Highway Tasmania" who is the company that operates 6 of the stations.)
We've also had Evie complete their second 350 kW site (Brighton) with construction imminent at their third site (Westbury). So that will be 16 sites.
There were also a couple of unexpected extras - the VW dealer in Launceston and Audi dealer in Hobart both installed 50 kW units! Notionally open to all but you know how dealerships can be so I don't count them as part of the network.
Of course it's great having all these, but it's even better that they're being well used - which means traffic jams!
Swansea:
Brighton:
Campbell Town:
Or sometimes chargers being unavailable... recently the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery took over the part of the car park with the sole Hobart 50 kW charger in it for a week. The Kempton Mood Food unit was removed completely while the site undergoes renovations. An owner was told there would be 3x units coming to the site later in the year!
So, obviously we need MORE!
The next batch will come courtesy of the
ARENA Future Fuels Fund. This is happening all over the country, but in Tassie there is a region surrounding Hobart that is covered and the expectation is that there will be 4-5 sites as a result of this funding. The expectation is that Sorell and Kingston will be among the sites covered. We should find out who, where and when within the next month or so.
We've also just had a state election, and the sitting government was re-elected - and
their EV policy promised another 600k in funding for charging stations. The wording of the policy actually gave examples of locations that could be covered:
To get more Tasmanians behind the wheel of an EV and driving in our regions, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide a further $600,000 in grants towards fast-charging and destination stations in regional Tasmanian locations and key tourism destinations not currently well serviced with charging infrastructure.
Possible locations for EV charging infrastructure could include Bicheno, Cygnet, Dunalley, Dover, Miena (Central Plateau), Ouse, Oatlands, Port Arthur, Smithton, Southport, Strahan, Tullah, and Triabunna.
I don't know why they would specifically list locations, perhaps they wanted to get picked up by local news outlets. Anyway, I'm guessing the method will be similar to before, with grants per site, which would mean another 10-12 locations. Expect this to take place some time in the current term (four years)!
www.mynrma.com.au
