Imagine embarking on a road trip through the stunning landscapes of Queensland, only to realize your electric vehicle (EV) is running out of juice—and there’s nowhere to charge it. This is the harsh reality for many EV owners in Queensland’s inland regions, where key highways remain eerily devoid of charging infrastructure. For Jacki Whittaker, the dream of seamless electric travel hit a roadblock when she had to rent a petrol car for a three-hour drive to Clermont, a stark reminder of the gaps in the EV charging network. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Queensland’s government has invested in charging stations across central, western, and north-west regions, highways like the Peak Downs and parts of the Leichhardt have been left in the dust, missing out on crucial public funding. Why the disparity? And what does this mean for the future of EV tourism in these areas?
Jacki’s story began two years ago when she and her family, motivated by rising petrol costs and shrinking solar feed-in tariffs, embraced the EV lifestyle with a new electric SUV. A driving holiday through central western Queensland, including stops at iconic spots like the Longreach Stockman’s Hall of Fame, reassured her that range anxiety was a thing of the past. “It was a flawless journey,” she recalled, highlighting the availability of charging stations in towns like Longreach, Winton, and Hughenden. But the Clermont trip exposed a glaring gap: the Peak Downs Highway, a vital route connecting coalfields to the coast, lacks dedicated EV charging points. Is this a missed opportunity for a region eager to boost its drive-tourism appeal?
The Peak Downs Highway, bustling with diesel trucks and mining vehicles, is a lifeline for the region’s economy. Yet, despite its importance, it’s been overlooked in Queensland’s Electric Super Highway Program and co-funding schemes. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed that funding for these initiatives has been fully allocated, leaving no room for additional projects. Meanwhile, the Isaac Regional Council, which oversees much of the highway, has only two registered EV chargers—both located in Clairview, far from the Peak Downs route. Since 2020, no private applications for new chargers have been submitted, raising questions about the incentives for businesses to invest in rural EV infrastructure.
And this is the part most people miss: while services like PlugShare list charging options in small towns like Clermont, these are often low-capacity solutions, not the high-powered stations needed for long-distance travel. Alina Dini, from the Electric Vehicle Council, argues that commercial chargers in rural areas are becoming essential. “Public charging depends on usage and the overall program design,” she explained, adding that an additional $40 million in federal funding was allocated in September to expand the network. However, the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is still determining how and where this funding will be deployed. Will it be enough to bridge the gap?
For Dylan Jones, who runs a roadhouse on the Leichhardt Highway, the challenge is personal. While EVs frequently stop at his business, he can only offer food, not charging. “We don’t have the power infrastructure to support high-voltage chargers,” he said, highlighting the technical and financial barriers for small businesses. The northern section of the Leichhardt Highway, like the Peak Downs, is excluded from Queensland’s Electric Super Highway program, making it commercially unviable for him to install a charger independently. Should the onus be on small businesses, or is this a responsibility for government and industry leaders?
Despite these hurdles, Ms. Dini remains optimistic. With high-powered chargers now covering most of Australia and EVs boasting ranges of 400–600 kilometers, she believes the growing number of EV owners will make rural charging stations more feasible. “Drivers will naturally stop to top up their batteries,” she said. But the question remains: how long will inland Queenslanders and tourists have to wait for the infrastructure to catch up? Is this a temporary growing pain, or a systemic oversight that needs urgent attention?
What do you think? Should governments prioritize funding for rural EV infrastructure, or is it up to private businesses to step in? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a conversation that drives change.
