Motorists will soon be able to drive their electric vehicles (EVs) to the Southern Downs with the installation of two new charging stations set to energise downtown Warwick. The two chargers will see Warwick become a part of Queensland’s Electric Super Highway and will further position the Southern Downs as a destination for renewable energy. Southern Downs Regional Council is installing the new car chargers in partnership with The University of Queensland (UQ) as a part of the Warwick Solar Farm project. UQ will install two stations equipped with three charging bays which can charge three vehicles at a time.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said the new electric vehicle chargers are exciting for the region and reflect Council’s commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability. “This is really exciting news for our region and for electric vehicle users across Queensland,” Mayor Dobie said. “Warwick is now a key link in the Queensland Electric Super Highway, and an important fast charging point connecting the Queensland network with charging networks in New South Wales and Victoria. In the future, we will see more highways becoming electric and Warwick’s position at the intersection of two major highways makes it ideal as an electric vehicle destination.”
Councillor for Economic Development, Regional Promotion and Tourism Rod Kelly said “Placing the charging stations in the Acacia Avenue carpark helps boost the local economy and provides an open, public space for motorists to charge their cars.” He added that “as the technology improves and electric cars become more affordable, we will see more and more people driving them. UQ will provide the car charging service at no cost for the foreseeable future, so this is an exciting opportunity to encourage even more travellers to visit the Southern Downs and explore the many businesses and wonderful attractions our region has to offer.
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