A much anticipated 75kW off-grid fast charger at the famed Nullarbor Roadhouse has been fully commissioned and is available for use, the second off-grid fast charger to come on line as part of the NRMA
A fortnight after two new EV charging sites were opened in regional areas of South Australia, the Nullarbor facility is part of a network being rolled out across regional South Australia and around Australian by motoring organisation NRMA, and backed by the Australian federal government’s $78.6 million Driving the Nation Fund.
While official confirmation has yet to be publicised by any of the involved parties, the Tesla Owners Club of Western Australia’s X account announced that the new 75kW Tritium fast chargers were now operational.
With a history dating back to at least 1956, the Nullarbor Roadhouse has become a popular stopover on one of the world’s most iconic journeys.
The chargers are powered by onsite solar, battery, and a back-up system and the facility is one of several standalone systems that are planned to be built across the Nullarbor Plain linking South Australia and Western Australia – supplementing the slow AC-charging systems that have existed to date.
“As EV uptake increases across Australia, the National EV charging network will enable drivers to navigate and find a charge with ease,” said Carly Irving-Dolan, CEO of NRMA Energy, speaking last month.
“Nullarbor is our second standalone power system, and we’re proud to be delivering this world-first technology to better connect Australians.”
Additional fast charging stations will be rolled out across South Australia in Border Village, Burra, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Coorabie, Glendambo, Kimba, Marla, Mount Gambier, Pimba, Port Augusta, Port Gibbon, Port Pirie, Port Wakefield, Wudinna, and Yunta/Manna Hill.
See also: Diesel vs electric across the Nullarbor: Which is the lowest cost in fuel?
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.