As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads continues to rise sharply, a new holiday frustration phenomenon has emerged … massive queues to use charging stations.
While many grey nomads remain deeply sceptical that EVs will ever be widely used to tow heavy caravans or power larger motorhomes, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests they may be proved wrong … and sooner rather than later.
And the consensus of expert opinion is that the scenes over summer in which EV drivers were forced to wait up to 90 minutes to get back on the road, will further turbo charge the electric vehicle revolution.
The thinking is that this ‘realworld data’ on charging hotspots will only serve to further highlight the importance of upgrading the infrastructure quickly.
Motorists are experiencing longer queues as the demand to charge up EVs grows PIC: CIAA
And the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) says caravan parks could have a huge role to play in the future of regional connectivity.
It’s calling upon government and the market to help it utilise its national footprint of more than 2,600 caravan parks into a national fast charger and community generator network.
“As an industry, we see the challenges presented by the transition,” said CIAA CEO, Stuart Lamont. “We also want to be an active contributor to the solution and, with a truly national network of caravan parks in some of Australia’s key regional destinations and overnight transit routes, we believe we can be at the forefront of the transition.”
He said the Association was looking to government to support a market readiness report to articulate a road map to the provision of a fast charger network.
“We know technology also exists that parks can utilise to not only be a charger location but be a community energy collector and contributor,” Mr Lamont said. “Early conversations have been promising in terms of the technology options for a network, and we know possibilities to be a major contributor are endless.”
The CIAA says growing frustrations and the real threat of limited charger opportunities could significantly stifle the caravanning industry, which it calls the ‘backbone of domestic tourism’, and an industry that contributes over $27 billion per annum to Australia’s economy.
• Do you think it makes sense for caravan parks to host EV charging points? Comment below.
Grey Nomad Members now have the opportunity to win six 750ml eco flat bottles of Pinot Grigio (total value of $96) from Banrock Station.
The new eco-flat wine bottle is made entirely from Australian-sourced 100% recycled PET plastic, which is 83% lighter than a glass bottle. The slimmer, flatter profile allows twice as many bottles to fit in a standard wine case.
It’s lighter to carry, takes up less space in your van, is easy to store in your fridge or esky, and is great for life on the road.
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* Haven’t joined yet? Click here to learn about GN member benefits, how to join … and how to win!
The poor buggers with Diesel & Petrol powered vehs will only have to pay extra for sites, the parks are not going to wear the costs. If you want an EV put up with the present problems. My sister could not wait to get rid of her new Mercedes EV, she could not attend a funeral 220 klms away, no way to fuel up to get home. We are not ready in the country yet, does not matter how much this is shoved down our throats, we will not be ready for years.
I think that it will be the end of the rural caravanning/tourism industry as no one is going to tow a big caravan across Australia. Oh it’s a bit hot let’s turn on the air conditioning…oops we’ve just run out of battery power.
Politicians, media and environmentalists have gone too far, bye bye tourism industry
The area of the entire United Kingdom is roughly equal to the size of Victoria.
EV’s are fine in compact highly populated areas but they will struggle in the wide open, sparsely populated areas of Australia.
We have enough trouble getting the electricity grid to cope with powering households let alone all the evs that the climate change soothsayers say we have to have
Any powered site can charge A EV. As to Fast chargers – significant infrastructure is needed – so could be many years before Fast Chargers are wide spread
I’m about to retire in 2 yrs and we plan on living in our van
But now with the EV push that dream is fast disappearing
The days of caravaning are number unless there’s some major changes in power for batteries in large SUVs and infrastructure investment, with our economy struggling and electricity supply in limbo the options look limited