The adoption of electric cars is starting to impact on the Wheatbelt NRM region, beginning with the growing charging station network. The electric vehicle charging station at Charcoal Lane in Toodyay was installed utilising grant funding from Wheatbelt NRM through the National Landcare Programme Sustainable Community Grant.
There are at least 22 other stations located across the region, see this map provided by PlugShare to get details. While a day-tip to Toodyay from Perth with a quick car charge while you explore sounds like a great day, those of us who regularly drive long distances, want to know the answers to the big questions. For example, can an electric car get the 590 km from Perth to Kalgoorlie via the wheatbelt in one day? Quite likely, given a well-planned trip. The BMW i3 electric car states a ‘real world’ driving range of up to 260 km while a full charge (from 0 to 100%) can take anywhere from 4 hrs using three-phase power to 19.5 hours from a standard wall socket.
It would be a nice quiet trip and you’d get a look at Northam, Merredin, Southern Cross, Boorabbin and Coolgardie while you stopped to top-up your charge. Potential to build tourism around punters stranded in town while their cars charge? Hello.