Tesla plans 18 new EV supercharger stations for Australia, in major global roll-out

US electric vehicle maker Tesla has released a progress report on its rollout of EV supercharger stations, with an updated global map revealing thousands of new stations either already being built or in the pipeline for construction.

According to the global map, the bulk of the estimated 10,000 “coming soon” supercharger stations will be installed in 2018/19 in North America, Europe, and China.

But Australia is getting its own boosted network, with another 18 supercharger stations planned for the east coast in both metropolitan regions and along “popular holiday routes, and one new charging station planned for Perth, Western Australia.

Supercharger Map – Installed (Red) and Planned to Q3 2019 (Grey). Source: Tesla

Specifics on the timing and exact location of the planned new stations remain pretty vague, but if you click on any on grey icon on the Tesla map, you get some details, such as “target opening in winter 2018. Exact timing and specific location may vary.”

The planned boost to Australia’s Tesla supercharger network comes as the ACT government announces its own plans to install 50 dual EV chargers across government sites in Canberra, to support its planned shift to zero emissions government vehicles by 2022.

And it adds to state government initiatives in both Western Australia and Queensland, that have installed EV charge points and fast charging stations across each of the states.

In WA, a team effort by Synergy and the WA branch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association last year began installing three-phase charge points in towns and roadhouses on all major roads in the south and east of the state, as well as some remote locations in the north.

And in Queensland, the state Labor government is around six months into its plans to install a fast-charging electric vehicle Super Highway along the Queensland coast – currently the world’s longest in one state – extending from the Gold Coast to the Far North.

Tesla – which has been a major force in driving the global transition to electric vehicles, as well as to battery storage enabled renewable energy – is also well known for its tendency to keep its customers waiting.

But as deliveries of its long-awaited Model 3 EV start to flow, the company has come under increasing pressure to ramp up its roll-out of its supercharger technology, which can provide half a charge in 30 minutes.

So far this year it has added more than 120 new stations, taking its global total to around 1,229, with 9,623 Superchargers stalls.

But Tesla drivers are pushing for more, particularly on major highways, to allow for comfortable long-distance driving.

Tesla is obviously trying to accommodate those drivers who – as the company puts it – are “rediscovering” the road trip. But it is also keen to point out that charging at home – or work – still accounts for the vast majority of Tesla EV refuelling.

On that front, there are currently more than 500 “destination chargers” installed throughout Australia, Tesla says – which you can see illustrated in the map below.

Full Charging Network – 500+ Destination Chargers (Dark Grey). Source: Tesla

“Supplied wall connectors for Tesla owners in Australia and custom electricity plans such as $1 electric car plan from AGL, add major cost savings when compared to an internal combustion vehicle, with unlimited kilometres costing $365 for the year,” Tesla said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Finally, with the introduction of workplace charging, that convenience extends to those who live in an apartment, have no off-street parking or utilise a work fleet vehicle.”

Comments

13 responses to “Tesla plans 18 new EV supercharger stations for Australia, in major global roll-out”

  1. George Darroch Avatar
    George Darroch

    A lot of new chargers in Victoria, but a bit thin on the ground in WA and nothing north of Bundaberg.

    This is just the start of Australia’s EV revolution though, and it’s a very good start.

    1. Eric Avatar
      Eric

      One of the good things is that Tesla Super chargers are very eye catching and curiosity arousing. The wow factor lets everyone know EV’s are coming.

    2. dogphlap dogphlap Avatar
      dogphlap dogphlap

      There are chargers all the way from Tweed to Cairns, take a look at the Queensland Electric Super Highway network which provide both CCS and CHAdeMO plus 240V AC outlets. That was completed around January 2018.

  2. Farmer Dave Avatar
    Farmer Dave

    Why no superchargers in Tasmania?

    1. Joe Avatar
      Joe

      Poor old Tassie. Left out / off again

      1. George Darroch Avatar
        George Darroch

        Google tells me that the range of a Tesla Model S is about 330-540km (depending on the specification), and for the Model 3 it’s 350-500km. Hobart to Devonport is about 285km.

        You might see a charger or two in Tasmania, but it’s not going to be their priority.

        1. Charles Avatar
          Charles

          A single charging site in Campbell Town would service 90% of long distance travel in the state! Don’t worry, some of us locals are working on it…

          1. Eric Avatar
            Eric

            If you get enough locals to buy Tesla vehicles that might help too. But given so many mainlanders go road tripping down there they should put in a few superchargers.
            I know I’d love to go round Tassie in a new Tesla Roadster(dream only)

          2. Charles Avatar
            Charles

            New Tesla Roadster? You don’t need a supercharger. It’s going to have a 1000 km range, if you drive that far in Tassie you fall off the edge 🙂
            There are a number of dedicated EV charging locations, and from watching Plugshare it seems they do get quite a lot of activity from visitors!

        2. Peter Campbell Avatar
          Peter Campbell

          Put one in the middle?

  3. Eric Avatar
    Eric

    Hang on, how can they do that? I heard they went Bankwupt a few months back! 😉

    1. Abel Adamski Avatar
      Abel Adamski

      That is going to be the short sellers

  4. Charles Avatar
    Charles

    It seems others have noted the omission of my home state (Tasmania) so I’ll point out another surprise omission – Port Augusta!

    Not just because Port Augusta is the home of many progressive energy community groups and businesses (I’m thinking of Repower Port Augusta and their support in the SolarReserve thermal solar tower, as well as Sundrop Farms), but it’s location.

    It extends the supercharger network in four different directions – across the Nullarbor to Perth, the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs, south to the Eyre Peninsula region and to the north-east towards Leigh Creek.

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