NRMA fast charging Northern Rivers motoring

Wednesday July 17, 2019: The NRMA will help drive tourism and open the roads of the Northern Rivers to electric vehicle drivers with the opening of a new Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station in Grafton.

The fast charger will allow most EV motorists to charge their cars in about 30 minutes. Standard public EV chargers take between three and six hours, and traditional power outlets can take more than 12 hours.

The station has been installed in the carpark at Grafton Library on Pound Street, drawing motorists into the centre of town and allowing them to use local amenities while charging.

The Grafton charging station is the 17th of the NRMA’s electric vehicle fast charging stations to open to the public across the state, following Sydney Olympic Park, Wallsend near Newcastle, Jindabyne, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, Mittagong in the Southern Highlands, Narrandera, Berry, Young, West Wyalong, Bathurst, Parkes, Dubbo, Nabiac, Tamworth, Batemans Bay and Orange.

The NRMA has committed $10 million to build one of Australia’s largest fast charging networks across NSW and the ACT.

NRMA Executive General Manager Motoring Nell Payne said the Grafton charger would further enhance motoring infrastructure offerings in the region.

“We know the Northern Rivers is an incredibly popular motoring tourist destination so now we want to open the region up even further to the next generation of motorists by providing them with the right infrastructure,” Ms Payne said.

“We know one of the key reasons electric vehicle uptake has been relatively slow in Australia is because people are worried there isn’t any charging infrastructure available along their journeys.

“That’s why the NRMA is a part of the solution to that perceived ‘range anxiety’ – our network of fast chargers will allow EV motorists to tour to towns like Grafton and know that they will have all the amenities and services they need to stop, charge their car, enjoy the town, and safely continue on their journey.”

Ms Payne said today’s opening would activate the NRMA’s Pacific Highway route..

“Our aim is that 95 per cent of Member journeys are within 150 kilometres of one of our charging stations,” Ms Cronin said.

Clarence Valley Mayor, Jim Simmons, said his council recognised the need to take more action to address climate change and recently adopted a strategy to cut emissions from council activities by 50 per cent and emissions by 40 per cent.

“We’ve also joined other councils in recognising a climate emergency,” he said.

“But these decisions need to be supported by appropriate infrastructure and I am pleased the NRMA is providing some of the facilities we need to help people adopt renewable technologies.”

Contact: Rebecca Page 0439 130 400