Australia has a great tradition surrounding the road trip. But it’s also the case that while the road trip is a well-established Aussie pastime, recent years have seen increasing reflection upon it in terms of its eco-friendly credentials. After all, a trip cross-country is going to demand far more energy is used in the vehicle in comparison to a drive from home to the local shops. Certainly, using an electric vehicle (EV) offers a way to do this with a clean and green power source, yet the reality is ‘range anxiety’ has been a worry for many when it comes to the thought of taking a long trip in their auto, in addition to other factors.
So can EVs usher in a great new era of Aussie road trips? Let’s look now at the key factors surrounding this question.
Mapping Out the Journey
By so many measures Australia is a truly incredible place. By virtue of the First Peoples, over 65,000 years of human civilisation can be traced back here. Today, it’s recognised as the only country in the world that has a continent all to itself. Within its borders are wonderful waterways, snow-capped mountains, desert sands, rainforests, and more. But despite all this wonder, there are also real challenges here, especially when it comes to the relationship between geography and population. Although the mainland of Australia is roughly the same size as the mainland of the United States, the latter has over 300 million more people, based on estimates which say Down Under has around 25 million, and the U.S around 330 million.
While the U.S. has millions of people spread between the coasts, the great majority of Australia’s largest population centres are either located on the coast, or nearby. This means Oz doesn’t have major inland cities like Phoenix, Austin, and Denver which will draw huge amounts of people each year for tourism, and see millions use the roadways between such cities each year. This is part of the reason why EV infrastructure and support for it from coast to coast Down Under has been harder to progress. This certainly isn’t to say EV infrastructure is without merit, but just instead it helps account for some of why there’s been slower growth of EV infrastructure (and other elements that support EV use) across the whole country.
Three Key Challenges to a Big EV Road Trip
If doing a big EV road trip across Australia today there are three current challenges that are important to factor in. They are as follows:
1. The Charger Availability Issue
A key issue facing the greater use of EVs on road trips surrounds the current limitations in regards to EV chargers across Australia. It’s true EVs can charge with a regular power cord that plugs into a standard powerpoint, but charging this way can take a long time. Many EV owners can get fast chargers installed in their homes that are more powerful and charge the car faster - but these won’t be of any use when out and about on the road. Although it’s true by some measures there are already a lot of EV chargers in Australia, in very remote locales there are fewer. Making a habit of charging regularly - instead of just when necessary - can of course help minimise the risk of running out of power with no charger nearby.
2. Extreme Heat
Australia is a hot country. Even in winter, there’s always somewhere to be found across the land that can dish up high temperatures which give a taste of summer. This can be brilliant for anyone who wants to do away with the winter weather (at least for a time), but problems can arise for an EV when conditions get too hot as the battery will drain faster. This isn’t likely to be a colossal issue if there are plenty of charging stations nearby, but for those keen to travel into a remote area - or planning a drive through a time and/or location, where weather conditions are predicted to really heat up - then being mindful of this, is important.
3. Accessibility to Mechanical Expertise in the Event of a Breakdown
Another aspect that’s essential to consider is what happens if you encounter an issue with your EV. In capital cities, there is likely to be somebody in town who has the expertise to assess an EV with an issue. But it should not be presumed that they’ll be a suitably trained mechanic nearby at all times across this vast country. As a result, doing some research in advance to see who could service an EV along the planned journey if a breakdown occurs is prudent.
Dealing with a Major Delay
It surely won’t be welcome if an EV encounters one of the 3 issues above while on a road trip. There’s no getting around it, time spent on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck is going to mean time is lost that could be spent driving to a new destination. But this said it’s important to keep in mind that arranging for a tow truck is likely to be the worst-case scenario. In turn, vehicles with a combustion engine can certainly run out of fuel, struggle in extreme heat, and potentially get stuck in a tricky spot if a breakdown occurs in a locale where there is no mechanic nearby who can examine the issue.
This reality is important to note as while it is necessary to acknowledge at present some additional considerations should be in mind if looking to take an EV on a big road trip across Australia, there are also elements that work in an EVs favour. For instance, the fact EVs have fewer moving components compared to vehicles with combustion engines means the use of fewer moving parts can decrease the odds of something going wrong.
The Bottom Line on Electric Versus Non-Electric Vehicles
Overall, all modern cars are pretty reliable. It’s also the case that debate persists about whether EVs are ultimately more reliable than combustion engine-powered vehicles overall, so the experience with any one particular car versus another could be a case of ‘your mileage may vary’. Yet it’s essential to understand that while EVs have some unique considerations to deal with surrounding their use, so too do combustion-powered vehicles, and overall EVs also have some nifty advantages in their favour. So there’s certainly no doubt EVs can be fantastic to use on a road trip, it’s just essential to be mindful of their unique pros and cons in context.
Driving to the Destination
Whether it’s a trip from coast to coast across the mainland, a trip to or from Tasmania via ferry, or anywhere else, for generations Aussies have loved getting into the car and getting on the road. Yes, it’s no secret that given the ease with which international travel could be done in years prior, now and then some felt the road trip had fallen out of favour. Yet although the pandemic has certainly caused a lot of problems overall, there have been some silver linings, with the closure of international borders seeing the domestic road trip come roaring back to life in terms of popularity, and many Australians re-discover a love for their country’s offerings and attractions, and what makes them unique.
Going forward, more and more of these trips will be taken using EVs. It’s important if doing one now to factor in some of the challenges in Australia surrounding charging stations, extreme heat, and the availability of local mechanics and parts. Yet overall, the years ahead will see more electric vehicle infrastructure like charging stations come online, vehicle technology improves, and the potential for road trips to be made even more enjoyable by virtue of utilising an EV. So while there remains some way to go in terms of the EV fully realising its potential to transform the great Aussie road trip, we’re certainly well on the way to reaching this destination!
Solar Trust Centre Team
