RAA Charge has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) charging network with the addition of four new sites in Port Augusta South, Coober Pedy, Coonalpyn, and Meningie, bringing the total number of operational charging sites to 138 out of a planned 140.
The new sites feature 200kW Ultra-Rapid or 150kW Rapid charging stations, which are capable of recharging an EV in as little as 10 to 45 minutes.
As a critical junction for northern and West Coast travelers, Port Augusta now boasts five charging sites. The Coober Pedy site completes the network's northern route along the Stuart Highway to the Northern Territory. In the South East, the new sites in Coonalpyn and Meningie bring the total number of charging locations to 20.
“To date, RAA Charge has powered more than 50,000 charging sessions across South Australia, with 57% of those sessions occurring in regional areas," RAA CEO Nick Reade said.
"We continue to see spikes in interstate and international users during peak holiday times and major events, but overall 85% of network users are from SA. We now have more than 10,000 registered EV drivers on our roads in SA, and we’re proud to be playing a lead role in keeping them moving across our great state."
According to new car sales data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) accounted for 8.5% of new car sales in South Australia so far in 2024, up from 6.8% in 2023.
New RAA Charge locations are at Lot 8 National Highway 1 in Port Augusta and 51 Princes Hwy in Meningie, both featuring 200kW Ultra-Rapid stations.
On the other hand, Lot 773 Hutchison Street in Coober Pedy and the corner of Richards Terrace & Dukes Highway in Coonalpyn now have 150kW Rapid stations. Another 150kW Rapid site under construction in July is located at 66 Punt Rd in Tailem Bend.
The RAA Charge network is expected to be completed later this year.
