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With more than 90% of its statewide electric vehicle charging network now complete, RAA is set to unveil its first 200kW ‘super site’, featuring eight charging bays in the heart of the state’s Mid-North.
Located just 7km off the Augusta Highway at the Port Pirie Regional Arts and Tourism Centre, the 200kW Ultra-rapid Charging Hub will allow EV drivers traveling to the Far-North and Eyre Peninsula to charge in as little as 10 to 40 minutes.
The new Charging Hub will be unveiled at a free community event on-site on Saturday, where RAA experts will be available to answer questions about the network, EVs and solar and battery technology.
RAA CEO Nick Reade said the Port Pirie Charging Hub was the first of two planned ‘super sites’ in the RAA Charge network with another site due to be announced in the state’s South-East later this month.
“To date, we’ve delivered 131 electric vehicle charging sites out of the planned 140 site network, spanning from Ceduna to Bordertown,” Mr Reade said.
“The two RAA Charging Hubs will be significantly larger than most sites in the network, with up to nine bays instead of three or four and located along key destination routes providing fast charging facilities to travellers.
“Port Pirie is at the heart of so many travel routes in South Australia and will increasingly attract more and more EV drivers looking charge.
“By locating the Charging Hub in the centre of town, EV drivers will be able to safely stretch their legs away from the bustle of the Highway, and recharge while they explore the town and get a bite to eat,” Mr Reade said.
Once completed this year, the RAA Charge network will have more than 530 charging bays located across 140 charging sites, with 75% of charging sites located in regional areas.
“A key objective in delivering the RAA Charge network is to drive investment and help attract tourism within our regional towns; and that’s exactly what we are starting to see.
“Over the Easter and Gather Round period we saw a wave of EV drivers head to our regions, and a 17% spike in interstate visitors using the network,” he said.
Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis said, “given the network’s major focus on regional areas, it’s fantastic to see this eight-bay super site up and running in Port Pirie.
“Pirie is both a destination and a major throughfare, so this is the perfect place for travellers to pause and recharge and support some of the local businesses at the same time,” he said.
Port Pirie Regional Council Mayor Leon Stephens said several EV drivers were already using the chargers.
“Port Pirie will certainly reap the economic, environmental and tourism benefits from this wonderful facility which will be a drawcard for travellers to our region from the metropolitan area.
“The EV market is growing rapidly, and Port Pirie is proud to work with RAA to become part of South Australia’s largest network of EV charging stations,” Mr Stephens said.
The RAA Charge network is being rolled out with the support of a $12.35 million grant provided by the Government of South Australia.
To learn more about the network, visit www.raa.com.au/charge