Where to charge your electric car in Queensland
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With more and more EVs sold every year and consistent investments in charging infrastructure, Australia is witnessing the EV revolution. Only a few years ago, EVs seemed drawn from the future, now they’re slowly becoming a natural part of our lives. An EV can be a more practical option, especially for rideshare drivers, with long-term benefits and savings, mostly as fuel prices continue to rise.
We know charging is one of the Australian drivers’ main setbacks when switching to electric vehicles. And whilst the ideal situation is to install a home charger (we’ve partnered with JET Charge to bring you an affordable at-home charging solution), there’s no need for charging on the go to be a concern — once you find the best charging spots and get familiar with the process, it will be just as easy as filling up your petrol tank.
We’ve gathered all the information you need on charging your EV in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to make this process more accessible to you.
What types of public chargers are available in Queensland?
The first thing to know is that EVs can be charged using either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) electricity. Rechargeable EV batteries can only store DC electricity, so they need an onboard charger to convert AC to DC.
EV chargers come in three different types:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Standard, 240V wall socket. Typically used in homes. Requires a special cable, usually comes with the car. | A dedicated AC EV charger at up to 22kW. Typically installed in apartment complexes, workplaces, shopping centres, hotels etc. | A dedicated DC EV charger at power levels from 25kW to 350kW. Usually installed in commercial premises and roadside locations. |
| Can add between 10 – 20 km of range per hour when plugged in. Not recommended if you’re in a hurry, as it can’t completely charge a car overnight. | Can add 40 to 100 km of range per hour of charging, depending on your vehicle. Can provide enough power for daily use with a one-hour charge or deliver a full recharge overnight. | This method will add up to 150 km of range per hour plugged in at the lower end. This method can fully recharge some electric vehicles at the upper end in 10 to 15 minutes. |
| Average cost: $0.15 – $0.30 per kWh | Average cost: between $0.20 – $0.25 per kWh | Average cost: between $0.30-$0.60 per kWh |
Where can I charge my car in QLD?
As of February 2023, there are over 300 charging stations in QLD, 63 being DC fast chargers. Brisbane leads the way with over 50 charging stations, followed by Sunshine Coast with 16 stations and Gold Coast with 13 stations, with more to be installed.
Besides that, there is a range of EV chargers across the entire state of Queensland to connect its main destinations thanks to Queensland’s Electric Superhighway project. These are both AC and DC stations provided by the network Chargefox.
Check Queensland’s Electric Super Highway map.
Public charging stations
Across Brisbane, there are both Level 2 and Level 3 public electric car charging stations, while on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, you’ll find just Level 2 chargers for the moment.
Use the Plugshare map to locate all public charging points across QLD and Australia and check their availability.
A click on each EV charging station using these maps gives you insights on:
Types of plugs available at the station
Parking fees (if applicable, most of them offer free parking)
Operating hours
Nearby facilities (restrooms, shopping, dining, Wi-Fi)
Scores and reviews given by other users
Photos provided by other users
You’ll find most of Brisbane’s, Sunshine coast’s and Gold Coast’s charging points in shopping centres, sports clubs, tourist attractions, service stations or council buildings. Therefore, you can leave your car to charge while grocery shopping or stopping for a quick lunch. You can access some of the chargers for free, and several companies supply a certain amount of electricity for no charge.
Need to charge your EV in Canberra? Learn how to use the EV charging stations in Canberra.
Home charging solutions
If you want to invest in a home charging unit and your building allows that, you should start doing your research about the networks in QLD that offer EV charging solutions for business, commercial or residential buildings.
Whether you’re ready to make a small investment into a home charging station or you’d rather use the public stations available, you won’t be left empty either way.
Looking for a rideshare car in Brisbane? We’re Splend, car subscription specialists offering Uber drivers all-inclusive hassle-free car subscription plans, tailored for their needs. Find out more about our Flexi and Flexi own plans.
About Splend
Splend makes car ownership easier, more affordable and more accessible for rideshare drivers by building everything they need to earn more, pay less and stress less into one affordable weekly payment. It’s smooth driving, with no surprises and the lowest total ownership cost you’ll find – which is how car ownership for rideshare drivers should be. For more information about Splend, make an appointment and drop by to your local Splend Hub, email us, or say hello on 1800 775 363.