Orange has plugged into the future of driving with the activation of an electric vehicle fast-charging station in the council car park outside the Civic Theatre.
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The NRMA launched its $80,000 charging station on Tuesday as Orange City Council announced it would become an early adopter.
Council's first electric vehicle, a $60,000 Hyundai Kona, will become the city's new mobile parking inspection vehicle within two weeks.
NRMA executive general manager motoring Nell Payne said while only one per cent of cars in Australia were electric the numbers would be growing.
Ms Payne said with this 16th charging station across NSW, Orange was connected to an EV touring route from Sydney.
Alongside similar stations in Bathurst, Dubbo and Parkes drivers now had the convenience of being within a 150 kilometre range of a charging station that suited all types of electric vehicles.
"It really gives EV drivers access to this area of the world," she said.
"[About] 86 per cent of all domestic travel is done by road therefore we believe firmly the EV charger is going to be a great boost to the Orange community."
Orange City Council's Environment Sustainability Committee chair Cr Stephen Nugent said it was "fantastic" for tourism.
"It is about encouraging people who buy electric vehicles. A lot of people who come from overseas they ask specifically for an electric vehicle to hire. It's about encouraging that market that come to Orange," he said.
I can imagine people parking here for 30 minutes to charge up going to the cafe across the road.
- Cr Stephen Nugent, Orange City Council
"I can imagine people parking here for 30 minutes to charge up going to the cafe across the road, going to the visitor centre, or maybe the art gallery or the library.
"It is part of the global revolution as we move from fossil-fuel powered vehicles to electric vehicles over time."
One of Orange's few electric car owners Kate Hook said her $170,000 Tesla X car made better economic sense for her ride sharing business over time than her previous $100,000 diesel Audi because maintenance and fuel costs were far less.
"You never have to go to a petrol station again." she said.
Mrs Hook, who runs Eco Luxe Transfers, said she largely charged her car at home and with only 28 moving parts "including the doors" servicing costs were about $112 a time.
"It is essentially a computer on wheels," she said.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
What's on sale in Australia right now
- Hyundai Ioniq - from $46,000
- Renault Zoe - from $48,000
- Nissan Leaf - from $49,000
- Kia e-Niro - from $55,000
- Hyundai Kona - from $60,000
- Tesla Model 3 - from $60,000
- BMW i3 - from $69,000
- Tesla Model S - from $118,000
- Jaguar I-Pace from $120,000
- Tesla Model X - from $125,000
- Audi e-tron - from $140,000
- Mercedes-Benz EQC - from $150,000.
- Source: NRMA
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