In Queensland, long-distance EV travel has become more practical thanks to the state’s Electric Super Highway (QESH). Launched in 2017, this network now features 54 publicly owned fast-charging stations along key arterial routes.
Phase 3, underway through mid-2025, adds 23 new locations. It’s connecting Brisbane to Mount Isa, Goondiwindi to Emerald, and Cunnamulla to Barcaldine, among other corridors (excluding Kynuna due to local grid limitations).
The Queensland Government even has a QESH Road Trip Spotify playlist of artists from the locations of the charging stations!
While you listen, read on to learn how this infrastructure is reducing range anxiety and accelerating electric vehicle adoption across regional and urban Queensland.
Origins and early rollout
The QESH began as a collaboration between the State Government, Yurika and RACQ. By late 2023, the network spanned 5,386km with 53 fast chargers in 54 towns and cities from Coolangatta to Port Douglas. Each station offers at least two DC fast chargers which are compatible with modern EVs.
Phase 1 and 2 focused on coastal routes, while Phase 3 expanded to inland towns like St George and Cunnamulla by mid-2025. Co-funded under Queensland’s Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy, the network has supported a surge in EV registrations — from 9,100 in 2022 to 47,600 by August 2024.
Brisbane’s urban core benefited early on as well. Hamilton, South Bank and other inner-city sites joined the network which offer city-to-city connectivity without the range worries that once limited EV use.
Expanding coverage in Phase 3
Phase 3, announced in mid-2023, will extend the Super Highway into inland Queensland, adding 23 new fast-charge locations by mid-2025. Key additions include Barcaldine, Julia Creek, Longreach and Winton — remote towns that previously sat beyond safe EV range. These sites will link existing coastal chargers to inland routes, creating continuous corridors for both tourists and locals.
Phase 3 stations will also support next-generation EVs with enhanced charging capabilities. Installation delays from recent severe weather have pushed three sites — Injune, Emerald and Rolleston — into a late May or early June 2025 completion window.
In partnership with local shire councils, the government is funding site preparation, grid upgrades, and shelter construction. Charging stations use grid energy offset by renewable credits to ensure carbon-neutral operation.
This approach aligns with Queensland’s $10 million EV Charging Infrastructure Co-Fund Scheme which aims to deliver 46 additional public chargers by 2025.
The future of QESH
The QESH has catalysed EV adoption, with surging registrations in Queensland which driven by state incentives and infrastructure. Industry analyses project that each new charging corridor supports up to 1,600 additional EV purchases per town over five years. This will underpin a cascade of infrastructure upgrades and service-sector jobs.
Regional tourism has also felt the benefit with operators note increased EV traffic along charging corridors, though specific figures are unavailable. Future upgrades may explore dynamic pricing and advanced charging technologies to enhance convenience.
In summary, QESH has laid a solid foundation for long-distance EV travel. As stations proliferate and capabilities expand, Queenslanders can expect reliable, fast charging whether they’re commuting between regional hubs or adventuring across the outback.
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