Summer holiday in an EV

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The challenge

“We decided to purchase an electric vehicle as our car was getting quite old,” Brent said.

“We got a Polestar 2, which we have had now for 6 months. We have two teenage kids and they were excited with the EV to begin with. Now the excitement has worn off a bit and it is now like any normal car to them – although they always get a bit of a surprise by how quiet it is when we set out.

“Since we purchased the vehicle, we have taken it on three long-distance trips to Melbourne. The return journey is approximately 1,200-1,400 kilometres.

“Over the Christmas and New Year break we took the car again down the coast and to Melbourne to visit family.

The action

“When we drove to Melbourne we found public charging incredibly convenient. There is a surprising abundance of them on the way.

“I haven’t found them confusing to use - they are simply ‘plug and play’. We haven’t had any issues whatsoever.

“We have a couple of favourite spots we like to recharge at. When we get to NSW, we like to stop at Holbrook and then there are some fast chargers available when you get to Victoria as well. Another favourite is Jugiong in NSW. They have an NRMA fast charger across the road from a large café so it is a great place to grab a coffee, some breakfast and then head on our way.

“Most charging providers have an app and you can even check ahead of time before you reach them to see if the charger is currently being used.

“An EV does add a little bit of time to your trip. When we drove to Melbourne, it added an extra half hour, but we were happy to let the car charge and enjoy a coffee, grab bite to eat, and make some telephone calls.

“Considering the distance, the stops that I make to recharge are stops that I would probably make anyway to stay safe and reset after a big drive.

The benefit

“I think EVs are going to change long-distance travel in Australia. Most people will need to think about planning their trips a bit more and integrating an extra stop that you wouldn’t consider in a petrol car. For me it is convenient as I use that extra stop to take a break from driving.

“I think it will also change the way some of the smaller towns are set up and function as well. I imagine there will be a lot more amenities and cafes where they don’t currently exist right now.

“Heading to the south coast or similar I don’t think will change too much. Most EVs will be able to make the trip from Canberra to the coast without stopping.

“Charging is quite cheap and there are a lot of free chargers around in NSW. The trip down to Melbourne and back probably cost me about $50 in total.

“Since owning an EV, our running costs have dramatically decreased. We have recently had solar installed and with all the sunshine we have been having, I think our charging costs have been next to nothing – about 90 cents per day.

“Another surprising benefit is the extra capacity. Our model has the battery under the car, so we have a big boost and ‘frunk’ (front trunk) where we can stall some additional bags which is very handy for vacations,” Brent said.

Charging location tips:

If you’re heading to the coast there are chargers up and down the coast including Bungendore, Batemans Bay, Narooma and Mollymook.

If you’re heading direct form Canberra to Melbourne, there are chargers in many towns along the way including Holbrook, Albury, Wangaratta, Euroa, Avenel, Seymour, and Broadford.

If heading to Sydney, there are chargers in Goulburn, Marulan, Mittagong, and Cambelltown.

If you’re looking for a charger close to you, you can check out where charging stations are available in our neighbouring states and the ACT through websites such as PlugShare. Charging providers also provide maps on their websites to help you find a charger nearby.