More EV drivers embracing outback roads amid plan to expand Queensland's charger network

More EV drivers are taking on outback roads. (Supplied: Linked Group Services)

Queenslander Justin Searle lives almost 1,000 kilometres from the nearest service centre, but that did not stop him from buying an electric vehicle (EV).

The outback miner says the decision to ditch the country favourite 4WD surprised his mates.

“There is definitely the perception that EVs don’t work in the bush, but if the charging infrastructure is there it really is easy,” Mr Searle said.

Fifty-five public charging stations are now switched on across rural and remote Queensland and Mr Searle is among a growing number of EV drivers taking to the open road.

He says the installation of charging stations along the arterial Flinders Highway from Mount Isa to Townsville mean he can easily navigate the 10-hour drive to the coast.

“I get 440 kilometres on a full charge and it takes about an hour to charge fully from near-empty,” Mr Searle said.

“But the reality is you’re probably going to make a few stops along the way to stretch your legs, doing top-up charges, which all-up will probably tag about an hour onto your trip,” he said, adding that it costs him about $40 to travel 900km.

Mr Searle said that while the environmental benefits of EVs were a plus, it was the long-term economic perks that convinced him to go electric.

“The final point that put me over the line was the fringe benefits tax exemption that you get with a novated lease.

“I end up saving about $45,000 over five years,” he said.

Opening up the outback

As tourist season gets underway in rural Queensland an increasing number of electric car owners are heading to the outback from the coast, according to Sam Bush, a manager for assets and operations with Yurika, which is a branch of Energy Queensland that is installing chargers in remote areas.

“We’re seeing an uptick in EV type tourism,” he said.

“We have a lot of customers that comment about how it’s providing them the ability to take their families on holiday using their EV.

“We’re actually starting to see some of the regional areas becoming real hotspots for EV owners.”

The purchase of electric cars in Australia more than doubled in 2023, when 98,436 new EVs hit the road, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.

The group predicts the market will continue to grow by 30-50 per cent each year.

Vandalism, charging fears

But Mr Searle said limitations including a lack of EV mechanics and examples of targeted EV vandalism were holding back rural communities.

“Although the EVs are low maintenance compared to your diesel and petrol cars, if something does go wrong I still have that anxiety with the closest service centre being in Townsville,” he said.

Mr Searle said cases of vandalism against vehicles and charging stations were also a deterrent.

“Some people are just deliberately targeting EVs,” he said.

“There have been cases in Mount Isa where people run shopping trolleys into them and things like that.”

Mr Searle said there could also be a risk of queuing at the charging stations dotted along the highways as more EV drivers headed to the bush.

Mr Bush said there would be plans to expand existing services if demand rose.

“As more vehicles use the electric highway, we will be upgrading the technology to larger capacity charges, so that, potentially, people will only be required to charge for five to 10 minutes,” he said.