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.

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.

“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.”