The Cook Labor Government has successfully completed its WA EV Network, one of the world’s longest connected electric vehicle (EV) charging highways. 
Completion of the network – which features 110 charging points across 49 locations between Mundrabilla in the south and Kununurra in the north – means more people can drive through Western Australia in an EV, supporting regional tourism by improving accessibility to the State’s regions.
In some isolated locations that are difficult to connect to an existing power supply, chargers are being supported by standalone power systems, which largely draw on solar and small-scale battery storage for power.
The network has already drawn international praise, with Time Magazine recognising it as one of the world’s 100 greatest places to visit in 2024.
Synergy and Horizon Power jointly delivered the WA EV Network, which forms part of the State Government’s $43.5 million investment in EV-charging infrastructure.
The network’s completion comes as Department of Transport data shows the number of registered EVs on WA roads more than doubled in the past financial year to more than 22,000.
That data also shows the biggest increases in ownership has been in at outer-suburban Perth households, including Wanneroo, Joondalup, and Cockburn.
Many of these buyers will have benefited from the Government’s $3,500 Zero Emissions Vehicles rebates, with 9,200 rebate applications totalling $32.2 million paid as of December 2024.
Premier Roger Cook said: “We want every Western Australian to get out and enjoy our State – including EV drivers.
“This investment will help to bring down the barriers to EV uptake and help to get more EVs on the road across WA.”
Energy, Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby said: “This is an exciting achievement for Western Australia that will allow households to drive our energy transition.
“Through our investment in the WA EV Network, we have opened our State to EV drivers, who can travel from Albany to Kalbarri or Perth to Esperance without the fear of range anxiety.
“That’s good news for tourism in WA and a big reason why the network has drawn international attention.
“By building the State’s longest EV-charging highway, the Cook Labor Government is ensuring Western Australians play a leading role in our pathway to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”
Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport David Michael said: “I am pleased to see the increasing registration on new EVs on Western Australian roads over the past financial year.
“The Cook Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle rebate announced in the 2022-23 State Budget, which provides a $3,500 rebate for people purchasing new EVs is supporting motorists in making the switch.
“I was proud to announce in May that we had boosted the scheme with a further investment of $5.2 million.
“The completion of the EV network is another example of our commitment to an electric future and our determination to reaching net zero emission by 2050.”
Horizon Power CEO Stephanie Unwin said: “As WA’s regional energy provider, Horizon Power has an important role to play in making sure our communities across regional and remote WA can take advantage of EVs and we can help drivers get to their next destination, without fear of range anxiety.
“Horizon Power has delivered charging stations in 27 locations across WA – including towns such as Esperance, Broome and Exmouth – but also in remote part of the state, including four chargers out on the Nullarbor, near the South Australian border.
“Installing EV chargers in remote locations is not without its challenges. It requires novel thinking to get the EV chargers to work reliably on small microgrids and to facilitate the transportation of materials in remote parts of our state, so that we can deliver this important infrastructure. Acknowledging the need for reliable EV chargers in our remote locations, which are often subject to extreme climates and resource constraints, we have installed back-up chargers at all sites.
“Thinking outside the box, our project team has been responsible for the deployment of bespoke energy solutions across regional and remote WA, including standalone power systems powered predominantly by renewables, tailored to support the unique needs of our different communities.”
Synergy Executive General Manager Brent Italiano said: “The successful delivery of the WA EV Network was achieved with multi-departmental cooperation between Synergy and Horizon Power with the support of local councils and the WA EV community.
“There have been more than 36,000 charging sessions on the network (as at December 5, 2024).
“Synergy has delivered 22 charging locations, with a total of 52 fast charger points and 18 back-up chargers across the state’s main electricity grid, the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which includes Perth’s metropolitan area and expands from Kalbarri in the north, to Kalgoorlie in the east and Albany in the south.”
For more information about the WA EV Network, visit wa.gov.au/service/environment/environment-information-services/transitioning-electric-vehicles-evs.
