YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

There sure are. Along with being able to use a standard wall socket to use, there are a number of 22kW fast chargers available to use in Broome. Depending on that make and model of the EV the time they take to charge will vary though. Horizon Power is also planning to install a 22kW fast charger in Broome.

Using the 100% electric Hyundai Kona as an example, which is the EV we are using in our EV pilot –if you were using a 22kW AC fast charger, you’ll get about 50km of range per one hour of recharging.

Plugshare is a great tool that is free to use, and lets EV drivers see up-to-date information on all the EV charging stations, along with details about how fast they are and what type of plug they use. Plugshare even has a useful trip planning function that will show you the EV chargers on specific routes.

The distance between Perth and Busselton is approximately 230km – so its absolutely possible to drive from Perth to Busselton in an Electric Vehicle. The range of EVs continues to increase as battery technology gets better. But because different models of EVs have different ranges they can travel on a full charge, the model of EV you’re driving determine if you’ll need to plan a stop at a charging station along the way.

The 100% electric Hyundai Kona is the EV we are using in our EV pilot, which has a range of 449km. That means you’d be able to easily make the trip to Busselton without needing to charge along the way. When in Busselton, you can recharge at the 50kW DC fast charging station which will charge the battery 80% in about 75 minutes. You can also use a portable AC charger that will go a little slower but is ideal if you charge overnight – taking about 10 hours to charge the battery to full.

Plugshare is a great tool that is free to use, and lets EV drivers see up-to-date information on all the EV charging stations, along with details about how fast they are and what type of plug they use. Plugshare even has a useful trip planning function that will show you the EV chargers on specific routes.
One thing is for certain – its only going to keep on getting easier to use an EV to make the trip.

As part of our electric vehicle pilot, Horizon Power is looking at the impact that EVs will have on our microgrids, collecting and analysing data from the charging stations at our Broome and Esperance depot and at the homes of our trial participants. As part of the pilot, making sure that the products and services Horizon Power offers meet the changing needs of the community around EVs is something that we’ll be looking at. So watch this space!