Qld 'electric superhighway' goes online

A string of electric vehicle charging stations is now up and running along the length of Queensland's coast, allowing clean travel from Coolangatta to Cairns.

Drivers of electric cars will now be able to travel nearly 2000km along the Queensland coast thanks to the completion of an "electric superhighway" of charging stations.

The state government first announced the $3 million project seven months ago, and there are now stations from Coolangatta to Cairns, as well as west from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said with charging stations at Townsville and Carmila coming online last week, the first stage of the government's Queensland Electric Super Highway was officially up and running.

"We now have the world's longest electric vehicle super highway in a single state stretching all the way up our beautiful eastern coastline," Mr Bailey said

"To encourage the uptake and interest in electric vehicles, the fast-charging stations are available for use at no cost for the initial phase."

The stations fully recharge an electric vehicle in an average of 30 minutes and have been placed at 18 locations along the coast, at sites chosen to be near cafes and shops.

Mr Bailey said in addition to being environmentally friendly, the electric highway was planning for the future with electric vehicles becoming more common, including more than two million sales globally last year.

The next charger expected to come online will be at Helensvale, and will be operational after the Commonwealth Games in April.


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Source: AAP



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