EV Drivers Get Screwed at Aussie Rest Stops – Here’s How to Fix It

Australia loves its road trips, but if you’re driving an EV, good luck finding a decent place to charge and take a piss. While petrol stations have perfected the pit stop—fuel, fast food, clean toilets—EV owners are stuck with half-baked charging hubs that feel like an afterthought.

It worked 'on the way to' but not 'on the way back'!

It’s 2025, and we’re still treating electric drivers like second-class citizens on our highways.

The Pathetic State of EV Rest Stops

Most Aussie charging spots are glorified parking bays with a plug. No toilets. No coffee. Just you, your car, and the existential dread of waiting 40 minutes with nothing to do. Compare that to the UK’s Winchester Superhub, where InstaVolt built a charging destination with 44 ultra-rapid chargers, a Starbucks, 24/7 toilets, a dog park, and even a kids’ play area.

Meanwhile, here, we’re lucky if the roadside dunny has toilet paper.

Would you use public EV chargers more if rest stops had proper amenities?

• Yes – toilets and food are non-negotiable
• Only if charging speeds improve
• No – home charging is enough
• Maybe, but fix the damn reliability first

Why Australia’s EV Infrastructure Is Failing

1. No Amenities, No Loyalty

   Petrol stations rake in cash because drivers buy snacks, drinks, and use facilities while refuelling. Yet most EV charging sites lack even basic amenities like restrooms or shade. Missed opportunity? Absolutely.

   
   

2. Highway Charging Deserts

   The government’s plan for 42 ultra-fast chargers on the east coast is a start, but spacing them 150km apart won’t cut it for regional travel. Try telling a farmer to wait hours for a charge in the middle of nowhere.

   
   

3. Zero "Experience" Thinking

   Chargefox and others are expanding networks, but we’re still stuck in the "plug-and-pray" era. No lounges. No food. Just a sad vending machine from 2010, if you're lucky.

How to Fix This Mess

• Mandate Amenities: No charging site approval without toilets, lighting, and basic shelter.

• Copy Winchester’s Playbook: Partner with retailers (hello, Maccas) to build hubs with fast chargers and service.

• Solar + Storage: Follow UK InstaVolt’s lead—use renewables and batteries to cut costs and boost reliability.

  
  

Bottom Line

EV adoption won’t grow until charging stops feeling like a punishment. It’s time to demand rest stops that don’t suck.