Planning an EV Road Trip
Australia’s public charging infrastructure is constantly growing. Every year it gets easier to set off in an EV and know you’ll arrive on time and with plenty of charge. But it still pays to prepare, and we’ve got all the tips you need to drive electric with confidence.
Choosing a Route
Know the maximum distance your EV can travel on a full charge and plan accordingly.
Once you’re away from home, you’ll be relying on Australia’s network of publicly available charging stations to keep your EV going. Coverage varies significantly around the country, so it pays to check where the chargers are before you leave. Try to space out stops to around 2/3 of your vehicle’s highway range.
Check out our collection of Australia’s best EV road trips for inspiration, or let us know what you come up with so we can spread the word
Plan For Your Vehicle
Range is a big selling point for many electric cars for good reason. If your vehicle caps out at 150km, you might have to seriously revise your trip expectations.
When planning your trip, don’t just look at the advertised range of your vehicle! Ensure you’ve tested—or at least researched—the highway range of your car. How far can you travel at 110km/h? What about routes with hills and frequent stop/start sections? This is important, and might make all the difference as you travel Australia.
Use our guide to Australia’s best-selling EVs as a start, then check for yourself to be sure.
Timing Your Stops
Always ensure you know where your next charge stop is located and about how long you’ll need to charge there. Powerful DC chargers can deliver hundreds of kilometres of range in an hour, while smaller AC stations will require a longer stop to accomplish the same. Use mealtimes, overnight stays, and natural rest stops to minimise the impact of charging on your journey.
Navigating Australia’s charging networks
Many of Australia’s public chargers aren’t privately owned, but managed by a single network. These can be nationwide, like the Chargefox Ultra-rapid Network, or specific to a state (the Queensland Electric Super Highway) or corporate manager (RAC Electric Highway). Often, specific routes are managed by a single network, so it pays to check out how their chargers work and how to pay for them.
Chargefox use a smartphone app to help locate and pay for chargers around Australia. Download it today to see what kind of chargers are available in your area.
Pack Essentials
Type 2 to Type 2 cable:
This is a must to connect your EV to a public EV charger that requires you to produce your own cable. With this cable you won’t need to worry about compatibility with different charging stations on your journey. Check out our best selling Type 2 to Type 2 cable here.
Portable Charger:
having a portable plug charger is the perfect backup plan to keep your EV going. These chargers can plug into any regular AC outlet in Australia. We recommend keeping one in your vehicle at all times. Just like a spare tire, you’ll be thankful for it later. Check out our range of portable chargers here.
Not sure what gear you need to charge in public?
Check out our guide to learn more on what to expect when charging in public and the kind of gear you might need.
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