Yurika will install 18 new electric car charging stations to boost traffic flow to regional and outback Queensland

The Lockyer Valley has just one charging station, but 18 new sites will be built across Queensland to boost regional and rural travel.

Yurika charging stations for electric cars.

A second electric car charging station will be added to the region, as Energy Queensland rolls out stage three of its Electric Super Highway.

A total of 18 towns are earmarked for electric car charging stations as Yurika – part of Energy Queensland – aims to boost travel through western Queensland.

Esk in the Somerset region will welcome a new electric car charging station, along with Kingaroy, Miles, Roma, Charleville and Emerald.

The Queensland Electric Super Highway at present has 31 electric vehicle charging sites stretching from Cairns to Coolangatta and west to Toowoomba.

But the only charging station in the Lockyer Valley is at the University of Queensland Gatton campus.

Earlier this year, Gatton Star journalist Hugh Suffell test drove a Jaguar I-Pace throughout the Lockyer Valley and detailed his experience with the electric car.

He found the UQ station operated using the Chargefox app that enables EV drivers to find, use and pay for charging up their cars.

The charger at UQ Gatton cost $0.20/kWh.

Yurika’s Executive General Manager Carly Irving said stage three of the project would expand the super highway from just under 2,000 kilometres to almost 3,800 kilometres, spreading through western Queensland.

“Stage three will add another 18 electric vehicle charging sites to Queensland’s Electric Super Highway, all of them in outback locations,” Ms Irving said.

Yurika charging stations for electric cars.

“This means there will soon be 49 fast charging locations for EV drivers to explore the length and breadth of our beautiful state.

“Yurika has proudly been front and centre in building and operating the Queensland Electric Super Highway from day one, in partnership with the Queensland Government and the RACQ.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced Stage Three of the Queensland Electric Super Highway and said use of the QESH was at an all-time high.

“Electric vehicle drivers will be able to take trips from Brisbane to Mount Isa, Goondiwindi to Emerald, and Longreach to Cairns knowing there are charging stations along the way,” Mr Bailey said.

“Sending the QESH out west not only puts EV charging on the map in regional Queensland but supports the drive tourism market too, importantly to tourism centres like Winton where the Palaszczuk Government is delivering $4.9 million in new additions to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum.”

Yurika charging stations for electric cars.

Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni said expanding the Queensland Electric Super Highway was just another way the Palaszczuk Government was working towards the 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

“Every time a motorist makes the choice to fill their tank with energy made in Queensland, it allows for the continued growth of renewables in our state,” Minister de Brenni said.

“Our $2 billion Renewable Energy and Jobs Fund means electrical vehicle owners will have access to the cheapest, cleanest electricity in the nation.”