One of the world's most advanced electric vehicle (EV) rapid chargers has been installed at Maryborough in Central Victoria as part of 17 EV chargers under construction throughout the region, due to the Andrews Labor Government's work to boost tourism, reduce emissions and support the uptake of electric vehicles.
The 17 charging stations will better link towns across Victoria, encourage more visitors to regional Victoria and ensure regional Victorians are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.
The new charging stations are in rural centres including Ouyen, Swan Hill, Kerang, Maryborough and Echuca, and smaller rural towns and key tourist sites including Robinvale, Wedderburn, Newbridge and Inglewood.
The new sites were identified as priority locations in the Charging the Regions report undertaken by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) and local governments. CVGA is delivering the EV charging stations program in the Loddon Mallee in partnership with Evie Network and local councils.
Maryborough's Tritium RT-M is one of the first of its kind to be installed anywhere in the world. It is Australian technology and was developed and manufactured by Tritium in Queensland.
The Labor Government has invested $664,000 for these chargers - part of the Labor Government's $2.7 billion Building Works package that creates jobs, supports thousands more across our state's supply chains and pumps dollars back into the economy.
More recently, the Labor Government announced a $25 million package to speed up the roll-out of fast chargers and advance electric vehicle innovation.
Constructing charging stations and increasing the number of electric vehicles are key steps in realising Loddon Mallee's Renewable Energy Roadmap, which outlines the community's ambition to embrace new energy technologies across the region.
This is one example of concrete action the Labor Government is taking to invest in technology that puts us on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
As stated by Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio
"I'm excited to see cutting-edge Australian technology installed in regional Victoria to attract tourists as well as ensuring regional Victorians are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles."
"The electric vehicle charging stations we're installing throughout the Loddon Mallee will put the region on the map for EV tourists, connecting Melbourne to Mallee unlocking the Goldfields and creating an EV tourist trail from Mildura to Echuca."
"The chargers will encourage more visitors to our thriving regional cities and laid-back rural towns, which will boost local economies."
