556 Electric Car Charging Stations in NSW
![556 Electric Car Charging Stations in NSW](https://www.livingnorthernnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Car-Charging-1200x800.jpg)
Are you ready to hit the open road and explore northern New South Wales in your electric car?
Electric Cars are now more prevalent in the Northern NSW region with an increasing number of charging stations available throughout northern NSW, it’s now easier than ever for EV owners to travel with confidence – Electric Cars will soon be the norm.
Whether you are local or are planning a trip to the region from Sydney or Brisbane, we’ll run through the different charging options available in various towns along the way so that you can plan your trip and take in all the sights without running out of juice!
Australia is home to over 3,700 public chargers at 2,100 charging station locations across the country, with over 250 of those located in New South Wales.
The NSW State government is looking to explode this number to 30,000 chargers by 2026.
Where are electric car charging stations in Northern NSW?
There are more than 22 public charging locations from Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour and up to Armidale. Some of the major towns where you can find electric car charging stations include:
* Tweed Heads
* Ballina
* Byron Bay
* Grafton
* Port Macquarie
* Taree
* Coffs Harbour
* Port Stephens
How many electric car charging stations are there on the Gold Coast?
If you are driving from Brisbane and need to recharge on the Gold Coast, here are the locations:
Broadwater Parklands – 124 Marine Parade, Southport
Bundall Chambers – 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
City of Gold Coast Nerang Administration Building – 833 Southport Nerang Road, Nerang
Coolangatta Beach – Marine Parade, Coolangatta (near Coolangatta Surf Club)
Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre (only available during centre opening hours)
296 Nerang Broadbeach Road, Carrara
Kurrawa Surf Club – Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach
Miami Aquatic Centre – 80 Pacific Avenue, Miami
Pimpama Sports Hub – 139 Rifle Range Road, Pimpama
If you are coming from elsewhere to northern NSW, click on the Plug Share website for more locations.
Will my charging port be suitable for electric car charging stations?
Charging connector types that are available.
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers
![ev charging speeds and connectors - rapid dc charging](https://www.zap-map.com/engine/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/EV-charging-speeds-and-connect-ccc62f36.jpg)
- 50 kW DC charging on one of two EV charging connector types
- 43 kW AC charging on one connector type
- 100+ kW DC ultra-rapid charging on one of two EV charging connector types
- All rapid units have tethered cables
Most electric car charging stations will use a combination of Type 2 AC and CCS DC fast chargers.
If you’re not sure which type of plug your car requires, check the user manual or speak to your authorised EV dealer.
Most cars will have either a Type 1 or Type 2 connector (the two round pins), but some brands like Tesla and Audi require a different type of connector.
Tesla uses the Tesla Supercharger network or any Type 2 connector, while Audi uses a Combined Charging System (CCS) connector.
What’s the difference between AC and DC charging?
AC charging (Alternating Current) is the most common type of charging available, and this is usually done via a wall box or at public charging stations. It’s slower than DC (Direct Current) as it takes around 6-8 hours to fully charge an electric car, depending on its size and battery capacity.
DC rapid charging is a much faster option, with some public charge points allowing you to get an 80% charge in around 30 minutes.
However, this type of charging is not available at every EV station and may require you to pay for its use.
Are electric car charging stations free?
There are some free connectors in public places like parks or car parks but they are usually slow to charge
NRMA customers using NRMA chargers can charge at no cost at the moment.
Electric car charging station costs
If you want a fast charge, you’ll need to pay. Exactly how much you’ll pay depends on your vehicle and where you charge up
Here’s a guide:
Tesla
Tesla Supercharger – 51 cents per kWh. If you use a non-Tesla station and charge using an adaptor, change costs can go up to 79 cents per kWh
Jolt charges – 40 cents per kWh to 60 cents per kWh
Ampol EV chargers are 69 cents per kWh
Chargefox EV chargers cost 60 cents up to 79 cents per kWh depending on the location.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Once again this depends on the vehicle and the speed of the charging port at the stations.
A slow service could take you as long as 12 – 14 hours. Under these circumstances, it would be best done overnight.
Faster connectors should see your electric vehicle charged in 30 – 4- minutes.
Petrol stations have an advantage here as most offer food, drinks and coffee to help pass the time.
Is northern NSW a great place to visit for the electric car enthusiast?
Absolutely!
This article dispels any fear of your vehicle running out of charge while on tour.
With dozens of charging stations spread across 8 major centres in the area, there are plenty of opportunities to recharge in 30 – 40 minutes while enjoying the region’s freshest produce and admiring the view.
As more and more electric vehicles enter the market, more charging stations will appear in the area.
The NSW government plans to add tens of thousands of stations in the coming years.
There’s no better time to enjoy your road trip in and around northern NSW fully charged.
Interested in discovering more locations in the area?
Also, while you are here, check out our business directory.