Question 1

Can you road trip Australia in an EV?

Accepted Answer

Yes — on major routes between capital cities, road tripping in an EV is now very practical. The east coast corridor (Melbourne–Sydney–Brisbane) has fast chargers every 100–200km. The Adelaide–Melbourne run is well covered. Cross-country routes like the Nullarbor and the Stuart Highway (to Darwin) are doable but require careful planning, as charging gaps of 200–400km still exist in some remote sections. Use PlugShare or your car's built-in navigation to plan charging stops before departure.

Question 2

How many charging stops do I need for Melbourne to Sydney in an EV?

Accepted Answer

For the 878km Melbourne to Sydney trip, most long-range EVs (70+ kWh battery) need 2–3 DC fast charging stops, typically at Holbrook, Gundagai, and Goulburn or similar towns. Each stop is about 20–30 minutes to charge from 15% to 80%. Total charging time of 60–90 minutes is added to a 9–10 hour drive. With a Tesla Supercharger and a Model Y, it's closer to 2 stops in good conditions.

Question 3

How much does DC fast charging cost on Australian road trips?

Accepted Answer

Public DC fast chargers in Australia typically cost 45–65c/kWh. For a 878km Melbourne–Sydney trip in a Tesla Model Y (16 kWh/100km), you'd use roughly 140 kWh total. If you depart with a home charge and use two DC stops on the road, you'd pay for about 60–80 kWh of fast charging — costing $33–$52 at 55c/kWh. Compare that to $156 for the same trip in an 8.5L/100km petrol car at $2.10/L.

Question 4

Which EV charging networks operate on Australian highways?

Accepted Answer

Several networks operate on Australian highways: Chargefox has the largest fast-charging network with 700+ sites; Tesla Supercharger has 200+ sites open to all Tesla models (and some via plugshare to other brands); NRMA has built chargers along the NSW coastal highway; Evie Networks and Ampol AmpCharge also cover major corridors. Most modern EVs can use multiple networks — just check app compatibility and whether you need an account or RFID card before travelling.

Question 5

Should I charge my EV to 100% before a road trip?

Accepted Answer

Yes — for road trips, charging to 100% before departure makes sense. While charging to 100% regularly is not recommended for battery longevity, occasional full charges for long trips are fine. Most EV manufacturers explicitly say 100% is acceptable for trips requiring the maximum range. Plan to arrive at your first fast charger with at least 10–15% remaining — don't push it to empty as charging is slowest below 10% and unexpected detours happen.

Question 6

How do I find EV chargers along my route in Australia?

Accepted Answer

The best tools for finding EV chargers along Australian routes are: PlugShare (comprehensive community-sourced map of all public chargers with real-time availability and user check-ins), your vehicle's built-in navigation (Tesla, Hyundai, and Kia all have route-planning that automatically suggests charging stops), the Chargefox and NRMA apps for their specific networks, and the EVSE Australia website. Always check availability before departing on a remote route — some rural chargers can be out of service.

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EV road trips in Australia — the real picture