The end of ‘range anxiety’? NSW tourism hotspots go electric

For electric vehicle drivers, and those who want to be like them, “range anxiety” is real.

The term — which refers to a driver’s fear their EV will have insufficient battery to cover the distance to their destination — is littered throughout online forums populated by the ever-growing market of people who have ditched petrol cars, and surveys repeatedly find it to be one of the most commonly cited reasons for not buying electric.

The electric car charger in the tourism town of Beechworth.Credit: Eddie Jim

In NSW, however, the Minns government is hoping to make it a thing of the past. The government is announcing the rollout of 945 new electric charging ports at some 376 tourism spots across regional NSW, including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and Scenic World in the Blue Mountains, in the latest round of its $20 million EV Destination Charging grants program.

The program, which has seen 1357 new chargers rolled out so far, focuses on tourist spots such as wineries, hotels, museums and galleries outside metropolitan Sydney to help EV drivers free themselves of the fear of flat batteries.

“These chargers will give EV drivers confidence to travel to regional areas without needing to worry about where the next charger will be,” Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said. “And they’ll give people living in the regions the freedom to choose an EV as their next vehicle.

“Tourism is a vital part of the regional NSW economy. By providing EV charging stations, we are making it more attractive for visitors to explore the area and stay longer. It’s good for the regions, good for tourism and a great option for drivers who choose to travel sustainably.”

The grant program is part of a $209 million investment in NSW charging infrastructure, including $10 million to retrofit apartments with EV chargers and another $3 million for kerbside chargers. The government is also rolling out a new statewide EV strategy.

According to the Electric Vehicle Council, new EV purchases in Australia more than doubled in 2023, with more than 180,000 vehicles now registered. In NSW, the market grew by 9 per cent, trailing only the ACT.

Nationally the council said sales were on track to reach 100,000 sales this year for the first time. But cost-of-living pressures, plus cuts to some EV rebates, could see those gains begin to slow.

In the second quarter of 2024, total battery electric vehicle sales declined slightly by 0.78 per cent, while hybrid vehicle sales grew by 33 per cent, according to the Australian Automobile Association.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.