Growing Demand for Electric Vehicles in South Australia
South Australia’s leading motoring organisation is urging for a rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure as interest in EVs continues to rise. This surge comes in response to the ongoing fuel crisis, with more drivers considering the switch to electric vehicles.
According to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ VFACTS report, EVs accounted for one in six new vehicles sold in April. The RAA’s Peter Nattrass highlighted that during busy periods such as Easter and the AFL’s Gather Round, regional charging stations played a crucial role in keeping people on the move.
“Mount Gambier, Bordertown, and Tintinara were among the top 10 most used chargers,” he said. “This shows a growing confidence in electric vehicles across regional areas.”
However, Nattrass noted that with one in every two SA motorists considering an EV for their next vehicle, there is a pressing need for both private investment and government support to expand the charging network.
“For every 1,000 electric vehicles added, another 17 charging points are needed,” he explained. “There’s a particular demand in the south-east, the Riverland, and up towards Port Augusta. We need to build out this network further.”
The RAA has already established the minimum viable network across the state, but Nattrass believes there is still room for improvement. “We want to see more choice in the market and better access for all drivers.”
Community Efforts to Expand Charging Stations
Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower has personally experienced the convenience of using an EV over the past three years. “I’ve found it easy to get around the state, region, and locally,” he said.
However, the council has received numerous requests from the public for more charging stations. As a result, they plan to install four charging stations at their Millicent office. “This will be a mid-speed charging station primarily to preserve council vehicles’ batteries,” Gower explained.
“But it will also provide an option for the community to get a charge in about an hour if needed.” He added that developers are exploring other locations in Millicent for additional EV chargers.
“If you don’t have a charging station, people will keep traveling to the town that does have one,” Gower said. “The key is to have at least one fast charger in each significant regional town.”
Impact on Fuel Security
The RAA believes that expanding EV charging infrastructure could also enhance fuel security. Nattrass pointed out that increasing the number of electric cars would free up fuel for other uses.
“During the 10-day Easter-Gather Round period, we estimate that 560,000 litres of fuel were freed up for other consumers due to EV use,” he said. “Nationally, with 500,000 electric vehicles on the road, this equates to 400 to 500 million litres of fuel available for others.”
Nattrass stressed the importance of building infrastructure quickly to give drivers more confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles. “Now is the time for the government to support private investment in this sector,” he said.
“There’s a long lead time of 12 to 18 months or more to build an EV charging point. Right now, we need state and federal support. If electric vehicles are part of our fuel security, we must see support in tourism hotspots and major travel corridors.”
The state government has been contacted for further comment.
