Improving Regional EV Charging Infrastructure, Customer Woes, Growth Opportunities for Regional Towns and Tourism.

The following observations come from traveling through regional Australia in an EV, and I must say, it presents a unique set of challenges that current owners frequently face, relating to infrastructure, software, and the less-than-satisfactory user experience. After nearly two decades of traveling the globe for work, I’ve seen what seamless infrastructure looks like, and right now, in Australia, the EV charging network rollout is falling short.

To be upfront, my background isn't in designing or building EV charging stations, but with my automotive and industrial experience, including facility design and construction, my focus has been on usability and workflow. When I compare the gold-standard charging hubs in Europe and the US to our local regional stations, I see not just a lack of plugs; I see a fundamental disconnect in user experience and long-term viability. Our current charging infrastructure, in many cases, it’s fundamentally flawed in terms of user experience and, without doubt, lost business opportunities. EV owners want more than just a working plug; they want good site flow, convenience, facilities that meet their needs, safety, and long-term scalability.

MY Critique of the Current Status

As a user and facilities designer, it’s clear that most of our EV charging sites treat EV owners as just a tick the box solution. Here are some concerns I’ve experienced while driving around our regional towns;

• The Isolation Factor: Chargers are rarely on highways and are tucked away in corners of parking lots.

• The "Afterthought" Design: Lack of weather protection or basic accessibility.

• Multiple Accounts: Unlike petrol stations, where a credit card suffices, many EV networks require their own specific smartphone app.

• Zero Redundancy: Sites with a single charger that leave drivers stranded if not operational.

• The "Digital Handshake" Failure: When communication fails to connect, you can't start the charge even if the machine is physically functional.

• Customer Site Amenities: Most sites don’t offer refreshments, restrooms, or outdoor seating.

As an EV driver and charger user, my experience is that we’re currently building just for the minimum requirements, rather than designing for the future of mobility. For regional Victoria, and any other regional town in Australia, developing a "perfect" EV charging infrastructure isn’t just about convenience; it’s about unlocking the potential of electric mobility and fostering economic growth. A well-designed network will reduce what I call "EV charger anxiety" (not range anxiety), encourage EV adoption, and support the growing eco-tourism sector, which is crucial for regional economies.

Key Elements of a "Perfect" EV Charging Infrastructure

Instead of just pointing out problems, I spent the warm summer evenings crafting a multi-part deep dive into the key elements that could unlock regional electric mobility.

• Bridging EV Charging Deserts: Powering Victoria’s Regional Transit Spine. Placement of Ultra Fast and Fast Charging Hubs.

• The EV Site Infrastructure Advantage: "Build Once, Expand Often"

• The Blueprint for the Future: Regional EV Mega Sites.

• Scaling EV Charging Stations Infrastructure: Through a Collaborative Partnership Model.

• Conclusion: Improving the regional EV charging experience, with some insights from these key elements.

In the upcoming weeks, I'll share four key essential elements for the ideal regional EV charging network and invite your insights.

I recognise that EVs aren't for everyone right now, and there are valid reasons why. I suspect these posts might spark some, let's say, "lively" reactions. But my aim isn't to get tangled in debate; I want to look beyond the noise and share my vision of building a scalable, unified infrastructure that powers today's roads and tomorrow's EV future. I want to outline a new direction built on collaboration, better business outcomes, a genuinely "gold standard” user experience, and a way to bring people (and their wallets) into the heart of our regional communities.

The next key element to this series will focus on "Bridging EV Charging Deserts": Powering Victoria’s Regional Transit Spine. Placement of Ultra Fast and Fast Charging Hubs. While this post will concentrate on Victorian regional areas, the plan can be easily adapted for any state or country.