Mildura’s first electric vehicle fast charge station opened

FUELLING the future is now a possibility for Sunraysia residents with the launch of Mildura’s first electric vehicle fast charging station.

The Orange Avenue dual station, officially opened on Tuesday by the NRMA and Mildura Mayor Simon Clemence, allows motorists to charge their cars while enjoying the neighbouring CBD amenities.

Cr Clemence welcomed the addition of the state’s 27th fast charging station.

“This is a very important first step,” he said.

“We’re in a situation now where, eventually, conventional fuel-driven cars are going to die out and information suggests it is going to happen a lot quicker than most people think.”

The NRMA-funded facility boasts a fast charger, allowing most electric vehicle motorists to fully charge their cars in about 30 minutes.

Mildura’s charging station continues the Sturt Highway route with connections to Balranald and Hay in the west, Berri and the Barossa to the east and onwards to Adelaide or NSW Riverina.

“There is that anxiety over range and obviously technology will improve, but in the interim we need to start working towards this as the new norm,” Cr Clemence said.

“By 2021, a lot of car manufacturing companies in Europe will stop making diesel and petrol cars and the reason for that is because their emission standards are so strict and it’s the same in America.

“We really need to work on this as an issue and we can’t wait for technology to be so advanced that we can have ranges of 800 or 1000 kilometres.”

NRMA executive motoring general manager Nell Payne was in Mildura to launch the facility and hoped it would improve mobility while also contributing to the Sunraysia tourism economy.

“We know one of the key reasons motorists in Australia have been hesitant to purchase electric vehicles is because they’re worried about range anxiety,” she said.

“That’s why we’re building this extensive network of chargers in towns like Mildura to safeguard against that happening, and make sure regional areas don’t get left behind because we know regional communities thrive when regional tourism thrives.”

Cr Clemence said the council worked closely with the NRMA to establish a desirable and strategic location for the facility.

“The main issue that was alluded to earlier is that if people are going to lock their cars and walk away, they don’t want to be in an industrial area or away from everything,” he said.

“People can lock their car up, walk to get a coffee and come back 45 minutes later to a charged car.”

Electric vehicle owners are currently able to use the NRMA chargers free of charge, but non-members will be required to pay in the future.