Construction started this week on the world's longest electric vehicle highway, with the town of Kalbarri to be the first location to receive a charger on the WA EV Network.
Work on the installation of the first charging stations began this week at Kalbarri and Northampton, with construction starting at the Geraldton site next week.
The sites are expected to be operational early next year with works on the remaining locations on Western Australia's main electricity grid, the South West Interconnected System, throughout 2023.
The contract for the installation of the standard and fast chargers will be awarded to several local WA companies over the duration of the project.
The WA EV Network will stretch from Kununurra in the north, to Esperance in the south and east to Eucla.
The $20 million project extends more than 6,600 kilometres with 98 chargers across 49 locations.
The EV Network is part of the State Government's Electric Vehicle Action Plan.
To view the Electric Vehicle Action Plan, visit https://www.wa.gov.au
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
"The McGowan Government is excited to see construction start on this State-led project being managed by Synergy and Horizon Power.
"There will be no more than 200 kilometres between each charger, reducing range anxiety and allowing electric vehicle owners to explore our amazing State.
"Installation of the chargers at Kalbarri, Northampton and Geraldton will be done by Hamersley Electrical Contracting, a regional WA company specialising in work on renewable energy assets."
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"This is an important step in WA becoming home to Australia's longest electric vehicle highway by the end of 2024.
"These charging stations will help boost the uptake of electric vehicles, reducing the State's emissions as well as relieving the petrol price pressure on households.
"Electric vehicles charged using the State's main electricity grid produce 30 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional petrol vehicles."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The construction of the EV network is a key part of our Government's strategy to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in Western Australia.
"By putting in place the infrastructure, and incentives like the Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate, we're setting the right conditions to get more people driving EVs."
As stated by Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
"I am proud that Geraldton is joining the EV revolution with new charging stations along the world's longest electric vehicle highway.
"The charging stations will mean that residents, businesspeople and tourists with EVs can travel with confidence to and through Geraldton from early next year."
