WA to get 98 locally made electric vehicle chargers for public use

Western Australia is set to get 98 new electric vehicle chargers from Australian company Jet Charge by 2024, the WA State Government has announced.

Spotted by the folks at Gizmodo Australia, the announcement is part of the State Government’s plan to implement the “world’s longest continuously connected electric highway” linking 49 locations throughout WA. It includes locations as far north as Kununurra, Esperance in the south, and the eastern-located Eucla.

The first charger is due this November, with each included location to have both a standard and a fast charger installed. Using the fast charger, capable of generating up to 150 kilowatts DC, will provide drivers with 15-minute top-ups, according to the WA State Government. After commencing the project in November, it’s expected the highway network will be completed by 2024. Once completed, 200 kilometres will be the average distance between charging stations across the state.

Jet Charge is an electric vehicle charging infrastructure company based in Victoria and works with many international automotive companies. The contract awarded to the local company is part of the WA State Government’s $43.5 million commitment to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state.

“We started Jet Charge almost a decade ago to accelerate the transition to low emissions vehicles in Australia by breaking down the barriers to electric vehicle charging,” Tim Washington, Jet Charge CEO, said. “Jet Charge are so proud to be involved with a landmark EV charging network that features a lot of Australian made innovation, and will absolutely smash those barriers allowing people to drive EVs all over the great State of Western Australia.”

“WA’s EV fast charging network is an important step to boost our uptake of electric vehicles, enabling drivers to travel the vast distances around the State more easily,” WA Premier Mark McGowan said in a media statement. “This will help to reduce carbon emissions, as WA transitions to net zero by 2050.”

Australia’s electric vehicle charging network is steadily growing state-by-state. Earlier in the year, the NSW State Government partnered with MG Motor to install up to 3,500 electric vehicle chargers in regional areas.

Although electric vehicles may not be affordable to all Australians yet, it’s good to see access to charging infrastructure increasing across the country. There are options below the $50,000 mark, so fingers crossed that the technology becomes even more affordable in the coming years.

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