Can you really drive an EV across Australia? An honest look at highway charging

The great Aussie road trip is practically a rite of passage. Big skies, open highways, a boot full of snacks and a playlist that lasts for days. But if you’re thinking about going electric, there’s one question that you’ll want an answer for: can you really drive an EV across this enormous country without getting stranded?

Australia is huge, and the distances between towns out bush can be eye-watering. So let’s have an honest look about EV charging on the open road, what’s actually possible today, and how to plan a trip that doesn’t leave you sweating on the side of the highway.

The short answer? Yes, with a bit of planning

Here’s the good news. For most popular routes, driving an EV long-distance is absolutely doable. Charging infrastructure across Australia has come a long way in a short time, and a modern electric car will happily cover 400 to 500 kilometres on a single charge. Pair that with a growing network of fast chargers along the major highways, and the classic coastal road trip is well within reach.

The trick is that an EV trip needs a touch more forward planning than a petrol one. You can’t always count on rolling into the next servo and topping up in five minutes. But once you get the hang of it, that planning becomes part of the adventure rather than a headache.

The east coast is the easy bit

If you’re sticking to the well-trodden routes, you’re laughing. The corridors between our major cities, think Sydney to Melbourne, Sydney to Brisbane, and up the coast towards the Sunshine Coast and beyond, are now dotted with fast-charging stations. Networks like Chargefox, Evie, NRMA and Tesla have built out a solid spine of chargers along these busy stretches.

On these routes you’ll usually find a charger within a comfortable distance, often at handy spots like shopping centres, service stations and town centres where you can grab a coffee while you wait. For the average holiday up or down the coast, range anxiety is becoming a thing of the past.

The outback is a different story

Now for the honest part. Once you head off the beaten track, things get trickier. Remote and outback routes still have big gaps between chargers, and the famous Nullarbor crossing into WA has long been the ultimate EV challenge.

The good news is that chargers have been steadily rolling out along the Eyre Highway and other remote corridors, so crossings that were once near impossible are now genuinely on the cards. But out here, planning isn’t optional, it’s essential. You’ll want to know exactly where your next charge is coming from, carry a backup plan, and never assume a remote charger will be free or even working when you arrive.

How charging actually works on a trip

Not all chargers are created equal, and this is worth understanding before you set off.

DC fast chargers are your road trip best mates. These can take a typical EV from around 10 to 80 per cent in roughly 20 to 40 minutes, which is just about long enough for a toilet stop and a flat white. The higher the power rating (measured in kilowatts), the quicker the top-up.

AC chargers, the slower kind you’ll find at hotels, car parks and at home, are great for overnight charging but far too slow for a quick highway boost. Think of them as a trickle rather than a gush.

A few free apps make all of this a breeze. PlugShare and A Better Route Planner are firm favourites, letting you map out chargers along your route, check they’re up and running, and even plan your stops around your car’s range. We reckon they’re worth downloading before any big trip.

Our top tips for a smooth EV road trip

A little prep goes a long way. Here’s how we’d set you up for success:

• Plan your stops in advance and always have a backup charger in mind.
• Charge to around 80 per cent on the road. That last 20 per cent is slow, so it’s rarely worth the wait.
• Travel with a buffer and don’t run the battery flat between stops.
• Remember that highway speeds, headwinds, hot days and towing a van all chew through range faster than you’d expect.
• During school holidays and long weekends, popular chargers can get busy, so build in a little extra time.