Rockhampton electric vehicle display after charging announcement

A Central Queensland man, who recently made a 7000 km return trip to Tasmania in his electric car, has helped to organise an electric vehicle display in Rockhampton following the announcement of new charging infrastructure across the state.

A Yeppoon man, who recently made a 7000km round trip to Tasmania in his electric car, has helped to organise an electric vehicle display in Rockhampton this weekend following the announcement of new charging infrastructure across the state.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey on May 25 announced more than 30 towns in Queensland would benefit from 44 new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, almost doubling the capability of the Queensland Electric Super Highway.

The infrastructure was made possible by the $10 million commitment from the Queensland Government, with towns in Central Queensland earmarked for new chargers including Agnes Water, Alpha, Biloela, Calliope, Gladstone, Moranbah and Rockhampton.

Construction was set to kick off over the next 18 months, with the last charger expected to be up and running by the end of 2024.

There are 20 electric cars, including nine different brands, that will be on display in Rockhampton on Saturday at Central Park, Murray St, opposite Central Park Motel from 8.30am to 12pm.

One of the organisers of the display, Yeppoon resident Arthur Hunt, recently made a return trip from Yeppoon to southern Tasmania with his wife Laurel in their Tesla Model 3 SR+.

Arthur and Laurel Hunt return home to Yeppoon from their trip to southern Tasmania in their three-year old Tesla Model 3 SR+. Picture: Contributed

He said they drove 7000km and had no trouble getting to Tasmania and back.

Arthur decided to purchase his electric car in 2020 in effort to reduce petrol use and emissions.

He said the new chargers would make such a trip easier in future.

“They should also reduce the range anxiety of future owners so they can be confident that if they buy an electric car they will be able to travel to where they want to go,” he said.

He said Saturday’s display allowed people interested in purchasing an electric car the opportunity to look at the cars and talk to the owners about their experience.

“A lot of people are a bit cautious about how electric cars perform, whether they can do the job, whether they’ve got sufficient range,” he said.

Arthur and Laurel Hunt's Tesla Model 3 SR+ charging at Miami Aquatic Centre. Picture: Contributed

“This is an opportunity to see a range of cars.

“You have to go to a capital city and pay a lot of money to go to an exhibition like this and it’s free.

“Having such a range of cars in one place at one time is going to be a big opportunity for people to check the cars out.”

Representatives of the Department of Transport and Main Roads were attending on Saturday to answer questions about the charging infrastructure.

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke would also visit and provide information about eligibility for the Queensland Government’s electric vehicle rebate, which would double to $6000 from mid-year.