Environment Minister and Acting Main Roads Minister Steven Miles officially kick-started the EV revolution in the State with the launch of the Queensland Electric Super Highway – the world’s longest in one State.
Mr Miles said the super highway will be a series of fast-charging electric vehicle stations which will be rolled out at locations right up the Queensland coast from the Gold Coast to Cairns to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in Queensland.
“This project is ambitious, but we want as many people as possible on board the electric vehicle revolution, as part of our transition to a low emissions future,” Mr Miles said.
“Today I’m announcing the first 18 towns and cities that make up phase one of the Electric Super Highway and will, once operational in the next six months, make it possible to drive an electric vehicle from the state’s southern border to the Far North.
“They will be available for use at no cost for the initial phase of the super highway so we can encourage as many people as possible to start using them.”
The announcement was welcomed by ACAPMA CEO Mark McKenzie who confirmed that the Association has been working cooperatively to assist with the development of the project and the engagement of select fuel retailers along the route.
“The fuel retail industry has been working co-operatively with the Queensland Government on the establishment of the Electric Super Highway project for some time”, said Mark.
“Our industry is keen to accommodate the ever-changing transport energy needs of our customers, whether that be the continued use of conventional transport fuels, the use of gaseous fuels, or the recharging of electric vehicles”, Mark continued.
ACAPMA believes that the insights derived from this innovative project will provide the practical information needed for fuel retailers to adapt national service station infrastructure to accommodate a gradual increase in fully electric and hybrid-electric vehicles over the next 20 to 30 years.
“While opinions vary on how fast the transition to electric vehicles will occur, the leadership shown by the Queensland Government provides a very practical means of testing different approaches to EV charging at Australian service stations”, said Mark.
With 6700 sites strategically positioned around the country, and more than 70 years of experience in meeting the transport energy and convenience needs of Australian consumers, the Australian fuel retail industry is strategically positioned to support the progressive roll-out of EV charging infrastructure.
“This leadership project will provide vital demonstration information that will have national significance in supporting the safe and efficient recharging of electric vehicles at service stations in the future”, Mark concluded.
