How to plan an EV road trip, plus four of the best routes

EV driving ranges and charging times

As Australians make the transition to electric vehicles, they can be confident that the infrastrucutre is there to support them on both their commute as well as on long road trips.

On the road, Chargefox’s ultra-rapid DC charging stations can deliver an impressive 400 kilometres of driving range to some EVs in 15 minutes. Regular charging stations, however, can take many hours to charge an EV for the same distance - these can be good charging solutions if you're staying for a while at the charge location, such as at a shopping centre.

Chargefox provides the following rule-of-thumb for how many kilometres of range can be added per hour of charging based on the type of charger being used:

• 7kW - Up to 40km
• 22kW - Up to 120km
• 50kW - Up to 300km
• 150kW+ - Up to 900km

Beware of relying too closely on an EV’s advertised driving range. A number of variables impact how quickly the vehicle’s battery will run down, from hills and winds to using the air conditioning. And while most EVs feature regenerative braking that returns energy to the battery when applying the brakes, this kicks in less frequently during long-distance highway driving.

Where to charge an EV

There are roughly 3,000 public charging stations around Australia, with more than 450 in Victoria. These EV charging stations comprise a mix of standard and fast chargers (less than 50kW), ultra-rapid chargers (350-475kW), and Tesla Superchargers (120kW V2 Superchargers and 250kW V3 Superchargers).

Around 2,000 of those charging stations are on the Chargefox network, which has over 300 fast charging plugs across more than 100 locations, including several ultra-rapid sites that are mostly powered by renewable energy.

Even more EV charging stations are on the horizon. Chargefox has committed to grow its network to over 5,000 plugs by the end of 2025. 2,000 of those plugs will offer fast and/or ultra-rapid charging speeds.

RACV Members save 10 per cent at many Chargefox ultra-rapid charging stations across Australia. Simply download the free Chargefox app, create your account, then in the ‘My profile’ section, click ‘Add program’ to add your RACV Member number.

Planning your route for an EV road trip

The Chargefox app allows you to map out your road trip journey and to check if chargers at stations are in use. Once you plug in and start your charging session, the app will let you know in real time how your charge is going.

Using the RACV City Club as our starting point, we mapped out four of our most popular road trips to see how they could be tackled in Australia’s most popular electric vehicle, the Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 was Australia's best-selling medium car in 2023, winning 50 per cent of the segment.

Our hypothetical test vehicle is the 2024 Tesla Model 3 Long Range variant with an approximate range of 629km and a price of $71,900 plus on-road costs. Other popular EV sedans, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Polestar 2, and BYD Seal, have less range than the Tesla Model 3.

The Model 3 can be charged at Tesla Supercharger stations, and it uses a CCS2 plug so that it can be charged at most non-Tesla sites too. You should be able to get a full charge for the Tesla in about 30 minutes using the Supercharger network.

Popular road trips to do in an EV

Melbourne to Sydney  

The Hume Highway dash from Melbourne to Sydney via Albury is a well-worn path for truckies and road-trippers alike.

Technically, you can drive the 880 kilometres to Sydney’s CBD in the Tesla with just one stop to fully charge. The most logical place to top up is just north of Gundagai, 510 kilometres along, where you’ll find Tesla’s Supercharger station next to the famous Dog on the Tucker Box.

You’ll need to monitor the real-world driving range, however, as it may need a charge earlier. This could be done at the Supercharger in Wodonga. While it’s charging, grab a burger at The Goods Shed or a coffee at nearby BeanStation Cafe.

Another cute stop 224 kilometres further along the Hume is Jugiong. The Sir George Hotel is great for a long lunch, while the Jugiong Wine Cellar has plenty of Canberra-region wines to take with you. The Tesla will easily make it from Jugiong to Sydney’s CBD.

Melbourne to Apollo Bay 

The sweeping bends and jaw-dropping vistas of the Great Ocean Road make it an enduringly alluring prospect for drivers. With plenty of chargers dotted along its length, an electric-powered journey is now a viable option.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range could do a return trip from Melbourne to Apollo Bay without recharging, but a quick pitstop will allow you to power up while checking out some sights.

A handy first stop is the RACV Torquay Resort at the start of the Great Ocean Road, about 100 kilometres from the City Club. While your EV is plugged in at the resort’s Chargefox ultra-rapid station, take a stroll via the fairway path to the beach to check out the surf, or enjoy the ocean views while lunching at Number One. 

Apollo Bay is another 96 kilometres from Torquay and the Tesla Model 3 will comfortably make that distance. There are three Tesla destination chargers located at businesses in Apollo Bay.

You could stop at the Lorne Visitor Information Centre on the way home to charge and treat yourself to a meal at MoVida Lorne while you wait.

Melbourne to Adelaide

Whether you’re bound for one of Adelaide’s famous festivals, a footy or cricket match, its sparkling food scene or the world-class vineyards nearby, there’s plenty to reward a road-tripper keying the South Australian capital into their sat-nav.  

Given its range, the Tesla Model 3 should need only one charge on this 725 kilometre trip. Horsham, which boasts a Chargefox charger, is well-placed for this. While the Model 3 is charging, take a stroll around the stunning William Guilfoyle-designed botanical gardens or visit the renowned Horsham Regional Art Gallery.

The Tesla Model 3 should make the 426-kilometre drive on to Adelaide's CBD, but if you’re nervous about range, there’s another Supercharger in Keith, 225 kilometres before Adelaide.

Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory

White squeaky-clean beaches, magnificent scenery and an abundance of wilderness walks to suit all ages draw legions of nature lovers to Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory, and the 225-kilometre trip is definitely doable in an EV.

Driving to Wilsons Promontory via Inverloch and back should only require one stop in a Tesla Model 3. Plug the Tesla in to the charger at the RACV Inverloch Resort and admire the sea views while you tuck into local and regional dishes at Radius Restaurant.

The Tesla Model 3 should easily make the 200-kilometre return trip from Inverloch to Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park, but there’s a Tesla destination charger at the Fish Creek Hotel along the way if you want a top-up. Grab some pub grub from the stunning art deco hotel while you wait.