The total cost was $120.42 - the information was obtained from the charge managent companys history or invoice for each charge.

 NSW didn't charge for charging so it gives a false impression of normal travel. Because  by the end of the year NSW will be charging for the KWH recieved by the EV. 

An estimated aditional cost  for NSW would be 1,164 Kms est kwh used approx 175 KWH would cost $80.32 giving an adjusted  cost of $200.74

Note we didn't get charged for the charge so no record to refer to. 

Perhap also add $40 for Port Douglas and Cooktown fill up. 

Total Estimated cost for EV travel is now $240.74

ICE car comparison 3,730 Kms --- 10 L/100 kms = $700.80 

Or if a hybrid claimed to achive 4.5l/100 kms = $318.92

Here are the information below

Chargefox chargers

place date KWH Cost time mins Rate/KWH

Euroa 29/7/23 31.86 $15.30 39 $0.48

Kingaroy 4/7/23 22.97 $6.89 32 $0.30

Gin Gin 5/7/23 31.44 $9.43 49 $0.30

Marlbrough 6/7/23 41.33 $12.40 62 $0.30

Mackay 6/7/23 36.93 $11.08 61 $0.30

Bowen 6/7/23 25.19 $7.56 38 $0.30

Cardwell 8/7/23 18.74 $5.62 25 $0.30

Innisfail 8/7/23 18.93 $5.62 26 $0.30

Evie Chargers

Harlaxton or
Toowoomba 4/7/23 37.039 $22.22 47 $0.60

Tesla

Dubbo 1/7/23 30 $24.30 $0.81

Totals 264.429 $120.42 avg 42 $0.46

The folllowing stops were free

Holbrook,Young,Parkes,Tamworth, Armidale, Tenterfield 

NSW estimated kms = 1,179 km (posible cost est 177 KWH = $70.74)

Port Douglas (Qld) to Cooktown cost est 266km X @4.5c per km = $11.97

This is some detail regarding the cost of charging in another FAQ but I will show the % of the total trip cost.

• Accomodation 51.34%

• Meals 39.35%

• Misc 6.77%

• Energy cost 2.54%

• Total cost was over $12,000 ($270 / day)

The charging graphs for EV charging that are availabe to view on the internet, indicates that the time taken to charge from 20% to 80% is the same as the time to charge from 80% to 100%. So occupying a charger till 100% charge is a waste of time. Since going to the next charger would mean you can charge faster rate and without occuping a charger when somebody else might want to charge. 

The other consideration is that the NMC battery longitity depends charging to 100% too often. So when 100% charge is not needed to get to the next charger so why waste time. 

So with these consideration it was best option to charge to only 80%.

This a long answer to a short question as it is question often asked of EV owners.

Considering the situation when you have run out of fuel in the past. In the last 60 years of driving I have run out approximatly 5 or 6 times. On each occasion I have miss read or over estimated the remaing kms that could be available in the fuel tank. 

Most recent model car be them ICE or EV have much better range indicators. So it is most unlikly anyone will run out now a days. The motoring organsation may have more accurate statitics. If you run out of fuel the roadside assistance will provide 5 litres of fuel, this equivilent of  30 to 100 kms depending on the vehicle.

So an equivlent EV would require 10 to 15 KWH of electricty depending on the distance to the nearest fast charger. The amount of electricity  amount to go 100 kms could be obtained by plugging into domestic power point (240v 10a) for seven hours or overnite. So if the GOM indicated you are about to run out you will get a message to say find a charger and as the level gets lower slows the EV to a turtle mode. By travelling at a slower speed you can achieve a longer range. Here a link to the article. Click here

I can remember travelling from Melboure to Mildura in th 60s and the car we were in wouldn't make that distance (approx 532 kms) without a refill. Unfortunity we were travelling on Good Friday and in the 60s everything was closed.  So no milk bars, hardware stores, or petrol stations were open so an enterprising petrol station at Wycheproof installed a coin operated petrol bowser. We then relied on the bowser working and it accepted the appropiate coins. (One pump one Location)

We manged to achive our goal over a 5 year period . The EV era will not result in no other options as there is electicity available everywhere that is where the app plugshare was developed originally that EV enthusists allowed EVs to charge up . You can filter to just see fast chargers (which I did) or home powerpoints depending on you needs. 

In my view it will be difficult to run out of electricy as more EVs come on the roads there will be opportunities for resellers to provide more chargers and better reliabilty just as petrol station have provided over the years. Goverments will encourage with grants to assist the companies with the capital cost. There are companies who assist the finacing of petrol station View here 

If you're intested an youtuber in Norway delibertly runs EVs past the zero state of charge his name "bjorn nyland" so you will find him on youtube.

Summary 

• Its more difficult to over estimate the range as the software in the EV is more precise now.

• There are EVs that have the ablity to provide "Vehicle to Load" so they could help a stranded EV.

• Since running out of any energy in any vehicle is scarse I don't expect to ever run out without an option.

• This an example of FUD (Fear Uncertianty and Doubt) injected into the community by those invested in the Fossil fuel industry.

Yes all charger in Australia have CCS leads as standard. There is a lot of charger that also have CHAEMO for some Japanse cars. It is expected that CCS will become the standard in Australia.

It is also called CCS2 as in the USA they still use the CCS1 connectors but these are not common in Australia.

Considering the various options how to charge. Day to day activities and travelling.

Lets consider for this example a 70kwh battery that needs to charged to full in a car like a KONA

Empty to full (0 - 64 kwh)

DC 70 kw charger would require just over a Hour to charge 

DC 22 kw charger would charge at 22kw would rquire 2 Hours 50 mins

AC 22 kw charger (restricted by the car) would charge at 7 Kw therefore would take 10 hrs.

AC caravan park 15 Amp powerpoint would deliver 3.5 Kw therefore would take 20 hrs 

AC domestic powerpoint (240 volt 10 amps) delivers 2.4 Kw would take 30 hrs

As you can see it takes much longer while travelling to charge on AC than on a  Fast DC charger. So it is the best option during the day. Once you have stopped at your accomodation an overnight charge is a more convient option. But it wasn't an option I considered would be available at all accomdation.

Then you need to consider when travelling whether you charge to only 80 % to extend the life of an EV battery pf the Kona.

I think this is the single most concern for potenial EV drivers and existing drivers as the standard for installing chargers on the highway and byways of Australia is 150 kms apart. So the reserve we used was at least 100 kms left before arriving at a charger. 

This critera wouldn't apply on major highways as they are becomming more common. The Governments are aware of this problem but seem slow to react. Perhaps it will be addressed as more EVs are on the roads and the need is greater. Also private companies are realising that it will be viable. 

Here is a comment from a Car Website with more informtion about chargers.

Lets consider the options using the Kona economy of 15KWH/100 kms and the next charger 150 Kms away.

Factors to consider 

1. The time that the waiting EVs will need to to charge their cars (some people will need to get to 100%)

2. The amount of charge you need to get to next charger (I always arrive with appox 100 kms on GOM)

3. How diplomatic you are ?  Convince the drivers thy don't need so much charge..

4. There is another charging option eg AC @ 7.4 kw slow charger.

So lets consider worst senerio - 2 EVs will take a toral of 3 hours before the charger is free.

1. Connect to the 7.4 kw and 3 hrs charge will give you approx 150 kms enough to reach the next charger or 1 hour gives 50 kms.

2. Drive very slowly to the next charger to reach it you may need to achieve  an ecomony of 10 kwh/100 kms taking into account the terrain. 150 kms @ slow 50 kms/hr would take 3 hours.

3. Check if there is a any other charging options between this charger and next charger.

4. Check out the accomodation near the charger

5. Go for a long hike. 

So the options are for you to decide which you prefer.

The reality is that the situation may occur, (worst senario) but as more charger at locations and on busy routes other charger locations will have chargers.

Yes it was frustrating for me. I tried to use the charger that is definded as 22 kw chargers. But had lot of trouble working out the correct procedure that the help desk knew that I was having trouble as they keep giving me the procedures to follow and then leaving it to me to get it right. 

 I did eventually successfully charge when we were at Hervey Bay (on our way home). The biggest frustration was that there were Tesla destination charger there  that non-Tesla could use and I would have just plugged one into our car and walk away as it would have worked straight away.

My first observation is that the chargers are AC (Alternating Current) the same as as home chargers. Thererfore not 22 kw (as stated on Plugshare) but depend on the EVs inverters it our case the Kona only has 7 KW invertor so any AC charger irespective of power it can deliver will only charge at 7 kw so a two hour charge will give approx 100 kms of range. I don't know of any EV being sold on the market that has an inverter larger tjhan 11 kw. So I consider this is false advertising.

The instruction on the side of these schneider ev charger was shown on most but not on all. and it seems the timing is important and also listenning to the charger. Not Impressed.

We used a bibs and braces conserative attitude but so some equipment for that trip weren't nessecary. 

• Adapter type Combo 1 (CCS1) to Combo 2 (CCS2) - CCS1 is rarely used in Australia. I think it will be isolated locations that may have installed chargers about 10 years ago.

• Caravan adaper 10 amp to 15 amp  - most slow charging is in an emercency or when a location don't have a charger is at night when the air temperature i slower so a normal extension cord wouldn't overheat.

• Extension leads we did use it in Cooktown but the motel manager ha dmentioned that he had an extension lead if I didn't have one. But it is a good stanby. The leads that are recommended  are rated at 15 amps (2.5mm core) refer Forum AEVA 

• CCS to CCS cable needed to charge from a AC charger eg using 22 kw charger (Schneider) as a backup.

• Car battery jump starter - We had one as the 12v battery had previously died so taking with us was an fail safe with remote location and the 12v battery dies due to accidently draining the 12v battery (eg leaving the boot open) so it is a charger that can be filled up via USB. It only needs to swith on the electic circuit then the transport battery recharges the 12v battery.

• Covers for extension connection - Just in case it is raining while using the extension leads.

Due to the present infastructure (one charger per location) a convoy would need to be space out  The time between EVs would need to allow for a charge of the first EV. 

So the idea of a group of people traveling together depends on group's purpose. Perhaps in the future there could be at least another charger at each location. 

It was a relativly easy procedure as we had obtained RFID for the major charging managements companies. The most frustrating process was actually finding the fast charger as Adroid Auto directed us to the location but you needed to spot the chargers as there were no signs at locations to direct you to the chargers . 

We did get more proficient as spotting the charger. If we checked on plugshare it usually had Photos taken by drivers that helped to pinpoint the chargers. But there is a need for a Australian standard for Chargers the same as petrol station icons can be seen roadside information.

VicRoads signs : shown here

Here is a list of the charger locations that we bypasssed on our way up to Port Douglas...

 Some of those were Out Of Order (OOO) so we couldn't charger at them.

Yea - Tesla open to non-tesla now, but at the time of our trip it wasn't open to Non-teslas

Wangaratta

Barnawatha North

Albury - (OOO)

Talcutta

Gundagai

Jugiong - Full

Dubbo used Tesla instead as an experiment

Coonabarabran 

Glen Innes 

Stanthorpe

Warwick

Lacom -  (OOO)

Rockhampton  (OOO)

Camilla

Ayr (up)

Tully (up)

Cairns (up)

At the time of trip (July 2023) and in the states we visited the state breakdown is below:-

• VICTORIA -  approx 170 there were  approx 80 odd charging locations that are marked as "coming soon"

• NSW - approx 300 but there are more coming but not shown on PlugShare yet.but NRMA has plans to activate more chargers over the next years. 

• QUEENSLAND - approx 160 but there are more being installed in Outback QLD refer to link

• It seems NRMA  has grants from the Federal Government to expand the fast charger locations  around australia refer to link

Consequently future trips like this one will be able to be accomplished without intensive planning

Quieter, smoother and more responsive (quicker and instant acceleration)

Cheaper cost for travelling per 100kms 

EV : 15 x $0.30 = $4.50  (or free if from home solar) - Economy 15KWH/100kms

ICE: 10 x $1.80 = $18.00 or $9.00 - Economy 10 lites/100 kms

24hr supply available of energy. Depending on whether you want to travel at night

Convience of Adaptive Cruise Control with easier management when driving. No need to press the brake as it stops behind stopped cars, then press accelerator to go.

Handling improved by lower weight distribution.

Remote heating/airconditioning can be switched on will an EV is in the closed garage with the most EV  app.

You don't need to touch the brake when traffic stops in front of the car. The electic motor automatically acts as a brake. 

Therefore you don't need to reactivate the Automatic Cruise Control when starting from stop. 

You may need to touch the acceleration or flick a switch if you are stationary for a  minute.

It is possible to travel in an EV now (but it needs a bit of planning)

In the next few years it will be easier. For example here is the planned charger for Australia Join venture Australian goverment and the NRMA click on the link for more details 

There is also OTR who are installing EV chargers at Coles express stores thoughout South Australia, Victoria and other states next few year

Tesla chargers more reliable as they have been installing and operating chargers worldwide for a few years. Also they have a at least three chargers at each location, This strategy has been part of ther marketting push. But in Australia the tesla chargers are not located in many places.  

Other Chargers benefits are that they are located in a lot of designations across Australia. 

For example the QEVH (Queensland Electric Vehicle Highway) extends to Port Douglas but there are only few Tesla chargers above Brisbane yet! - Gympie is presently the most northern Tesla location. 

Most of these chargers (non-Tesla) have been installed with the State government grants.

Tesla is opening up its chargers to non-Teslas but not all of them. So it is a changing Charging Landscape. 

Chargers are becoming more powerful.

Something to consider as the ev cables etc are stored in the boot where a spare tyre used to be. There are some EVs that now have a frunk (front boot) which means luggage doesn't need to be moved so that a cable or equipment can be accessed. 

I think I may have resolved this problem so looking for feedback

It did demonstrate an ability for an EV to travel from Melborne to the where the bitumen finishes in Cooktown in 2023. 

This has been achieved by a number of EV drivers but there doesnt seem to be a recorded info of the journeys. 

The site was also an experiment in using free software to achieve the same result as other offered travel log sites, which have restrictions on audiences. 

The result is that the blogger website allowed for the daily log be created just by having a smartphone but aleration to the website needed to be performed via a desktop or laptop computer. So this page couldn't be maintained on a smartphone. 

Also the Blogger didn't allow for what order the blog entries appeared as the latest to earliest was the only method of displaying. Also some people had difficulty in submitting comments to the blogs. 

It did prove that it was possible to create a daily blog and add photos with appoximatly 30 mins at night before nodding off.