One of the biggest drawbacks of owning an electric vehicle in Australia has been their limited range and a lack of charging stations. However, as EVs become more common on Aussie roads, we’re seeing a huge increase in the number of charging locations across the country.
This investment means that EVs are no longer just great city cars, but they’re also well-suited for regional driving too.
National EV Charging Network
There are more than 1000 fast-charging stations in Australia, with that number continuing to grow.
Announced in 2023, the federal government and the NRMA announced plans to build 117 fast charging sites across Australia to connect the capital cities – with an average of 150km between each station. New EVs have an average range of 200-425km, with those at the top end able to drive 600km without needing to recharge.
The EV charging network is due to be finished in 2026, with stations continually going online. In October 2024, the NRMA announced the completion of the Adelaide to Tullamarine leg as part of the ongoing progress.
Australian Capital Territory
As of November 2024, the ACT has 230 public charging bays, 46 of which received government funding. ACT government has announced plans to increase this number to at least 180 by the end of 2025.
There are two grant streams available at the moment. One gives funding operators to build chargers in high-demand areas while the other allows local clubs to request chargers to be built on their premises.
Queensland
The uptake of EVs since 2021 has been quickest in Queensland, going from less than 10,000 registered vehicles to more than 50,000 in 2024.
This has been aided by the state government’s commitment to creating Queensland’s Electric Super Highway, a three-phase strategy to electrify the state’s roads.
The first two phases, now complete, connected Port Douglas in the north down to Coolangatta on the state border, with a branch out to Toowoomba. Phase three, which is currently under construction, looks to connect some of the regional areas, with routes out to Cunnamulla, Longreach and Mount Isa planned.
Planned commissions in early 2025 include Emerald, Injune, Rolleston and Roma, which should all be online by May.
New South Wales
In mid-2024, NSW led the way in EV registrations with more than 60,000 electric vehicles on the road. This has seen steady growth from just over 10,000 registered in 2021.
It’s no surprise that the highest concentration of charging stations is around Sydney, but there’s a huge network along the eastern seaboard and plenty of routes going inland. Remote towns like Broken Hill, Bourke and Dareton all boast fast charging options.
NSW’s goal is to have a station every 100km along state highways and every 5km in metro areas.
Northern Territory
Although the NT has the slowest uptake in EVs, there’s a clear push to enable drivers (especially in remote areas) with the development of charging stations.
With 70 already in the territory, including new additions through the national initiative building stations in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. There are 13 more planned in the NT under this initiative.
South Australia
A leader in renewables, South Australia has ambitious plans to have 170,000 registered EVs by 2030 and for all new car sales to be electric vehicles by 2040.
A map of SA’s charging network has hotspots in Adelaide, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln, with chargers along routes towards Coober Pedy, Nullabor and several routes towards Victoria.
Victoria
With close to 60,000 EVs on the road, Victoria is second in the country for both vehicles and chargers.
Currently there are no rebates available for buyers, but those who already have EVs receive discounts on their annual registration fees.
Most of these chargers are in Melbourne, but the network is expanding all the time, with local councils like Bass Coast Shire and Manningham already announcing plans for new charging stations in 2025.
Tasmania
In mid 2024, Tasmania had 258 charging stations, including 34 fast/superfast options.
While a good number of these are in Hobart and Launceston, there’s a good spread across the state with options from Smithton in the northwest, Derby in the northeast and Nubeena in the southeast. Flinders Island also has charging options in and around Whitemark.
ChargeSmart grant funding is available now for new charging stations as part of the state government’s transport emissions reduction plan.
Western Australia
In February 2025, the Western Australia State Government announced it had completed its rollout of a charging network that includes 110 charging stations in 49 locations. This follows its EV rebate scheme which has seen registration of electric vehicles grow in the state.
From Mundrabilla in the south round the WA coast to Kununurra in the north, drivers can travel more than 5000km along one of the world’s largest EV-charging highways.
Buying an electric vehicle in Australia
If you’re looking to join the EV movement, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to save money on a new electric vehicle. Some states in Australia offer rebates and other financial incentives to buy an EV. How you finance your car can also have an impact on the price – one of the pros of novated leasing is that your purchase will be exempted from fringe benefits tax.
