General News
10 March, 2024
Charge up at CHC
Publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been unveiled at Gilgandra’s Coo-ee Heritage and Information Centre.
Publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been unveiled at Gilgandra’s Coo-ee Heritage and Information Centre.
On Thursday, February 15, Gilgandra Shire Council mayor Doug Batten joined with council staff, Gilgandra Toyota’s Mark Walker, and Lexus’ Rachel Deretic to unveil the new charging stations.
The installation of the new public EV charger comes following the NSW government program to deliver 25 more electric vehicle ‘fast chargers’ in partnership with NRMA to help enable greener and cleaner travel throughout regional NSW.
Minister for regional transport and roads Jenny Aitchison said that “It is great news that [the NSW government’s partnership] with NRMA will deliver 25 additional fast chargers throughout regional NSW. The [locations] have been chosen strategically to connect major centres within the state and also to link with major routes in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.”
The range provided by an EV charger is dependent on the characteristics of the charger itself, the electric vehicle, and the time allowed to charge. On average, a 75kW charger can provide up to 90km range in 15 minutes, up to 360 km range in an hour.
Mayor Batten hopes this will provide the Gilgandra region with a boost to local businesses. Visitors to the region will have time to explore the nearby Coo-ee Heritage Centre and the wider area while they wait for their vehicle to charge.
“The EV fast chargers are a welcomed addition to Gilgandra, which will hopefully see more tourists and visitors driving electric cars stop and explore all our region has to offer, providing an additional opportunity for our tourism, hospitality, and local businesses to capitalise on,” mayor Batten said. The EV chargers in Gilgandra accommodate two charging plugs: combined charging systems (CCS2), and Charge de Move (CHAdeMO), both direct current (DC) plugs. Level three chargers like those installed at the heritage centre are designed for the fastest charging and provide up to 350 kilowatt hours (kWh).
Users of these ‘fast chargers’ will pay for the service per kWh they draw. The new EV chargers were installed thanks to NRMA as part of the NSW government program.
“Council is thankful for the opportunity to work with NRMA on this project and welcomes all travellers to the Gilgandra Region,” said mayor Batten.
EV chargers have been installed across the region along the Newell, Barrier, Kamilaroi, and Castlereagh Highways, connecting electric vehicles from larger population centres with regional NSW.
