Fitzroy Bay free camp, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

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All Electric Big Lap: SA is leading the EV charge

Written by: Renée McLennan

February 12, 2025

Fitzroy Bay free camp on Eyre Peninsula, SA

The McLennan family's all electric Big Lap of Australia with their Kia EV and New Age camper trailer continues. In this chapter, they journey through South Australia and the Red Centre and discover that SA is leading the charge, literally ...

South Australia is literally leading the charge when it comes to renewables and electric travel. Coal-fired power is a thing of the past here, replaced by new wind and solar farms, utility-scale batteries and backup diesel generators, with turbines being spotted along the ridges of the hills as we drove along the south coast.

Over the past year, SA has met an impressive 70 per cent of its energy demand with variable wind and solar, and it’s aiming for 100 per cent net renewables by 2027. On top of all that, SA has been rolling out its border-to-border EV Charging Network, with more than 530 chargers and 140 stations across state-wide locations, making all the main tourist destinations very accessible. Cowell’s charging station adjacent to free waterslides, quickly became the family favourite!

A hidden gem at Birdwood

In Birdwood, we stumbled across a piece of history tucked away in the National Motor Museum: one of the few remaining General Motors EV1s. This 1997 electric marvel, which required no petrol or oil and had a respectable range, felt like a dream from the future. Yet, only six years after its launch, almost all EV1s were recalled and destroyed, crushed under the weight of industry and political pressure.

This discovery was a stark reminder of how vulnerable innovation can be in the face of powerful interests. For anyone curious about this chapter in history, the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? offers a sobering exploration of the EV1’s rise and fall.

Camping at Chalk's Campground, SA Camping at Chalk's Campground

Coober Pedy: underground adventures

The stretch between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy tested our planning when a storm knocked out power at Pimba/Woomera including the charging station. After a family vote, we decided to take a detour to Roxby Downs to charge up and then continue on our way with an overnight stop at Glendambo to trickle charge overnight. We managed to reach Coober Pedy, albeit a day later than originally planned.

Coober Pedy — the opal capital of the world — was well worth the minor hassles to get there. Staying in an underground dugout was a highlight for the whole family. These subterranean homes remain cool in the desert heat and showcase the ingenuity of residents living in one of Australia’s most extreme environments. A visit to a real opal mine and opportunity to try out ‘noodling’ gave us all an appreciation for the grit it takes to dig for a fortune here — it’s definitely a lifestyle we’ll leave to the locals.

The town, powered by a hybrid renewable system combining wind, solar and battery storage, is also ready for electric vehicle adventurers with fast chargers and backup options. However, we didn’t end up needing these as just trickle charging while we slept overnight allowed us to explore sites such as the Moon Plains and the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park with ease.

Underground mine tour in Coober Pedy

Uluru: A spiritual and cultural heart

Uluru’s majestic presence and cultural significance left us in awe. This sacred site of the Anangu people in central Australia is no longer a place for climbing but for learning, reflection and connection to Country. We spent three days exploring in the early mornings and evenings, embracing the beauty of the land and its stories.

Uluru is also opening up to more sustainable travel too. While there’s still no fast-charging infrastructure at Yulara, there are two locations with free three-phase sockets dedicated to EVs and two Tesla destination chargers, so we could easily recharge the car overnight. The nearby off-grid Yulara solar project powers much of the area sustainably.

Sunset over Uluru, NT

(For caravan parks close to Uluru, check out Ayers Rock Campground).

Wilpena Pound

Flash flooding washed out the roads and interrupted our journey to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, so we spent an unscheduled night in the historic town of Quorn before venturing on to the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound. Ikara, meaning ‘meeting place’, has profound spiritual importance for the Adnyamathanha people. This region is steeped in culture and is also home to the oldest known fossils of complex animal life on earth.

Wilpena Pound runs entirely on renewables, and we were even able to charge our EV at our campsite, right in the national park, powered by its solar installation.

Charging overnight at Wilpena Pound campgroundWhyalla lookout

The Eyre Peninsula: wildlife and wilderness

The Eyre Peninsula is a breathtaking and wild place, celebrated for its dramatic cliffs, secluded bays and pristine beaches. The area is the source of 65 per cent of Australia’s seafood, but despite the commercial fishing focus, there is also a strong emphasis on conservation and providing safe havens for wildlife.

While we loved the idea of swimming with sea lions, the eye watering price tag put it out of reach. That didn’t stop us from having incredible free wildlife encounters, though. From paddling alongside dolphins and spotting sea lions in their natural breeding grounds to snorkelling in crystal-clear rock pools teeming with fish and being joined by curious emus in the dunes, there were lots of magical moments to connect with nature. The EV’s electric motors and instantaneous torque allowed us to get offroad and have some fun tackling the dunes all around the peninsula.

The Eyre Peninsula also offers plenty of amazing, budget-friendly campgrounds along its coastline. Our favourite? Off-grid in Lincoln National Park, where we camped atop rugged cliffs with uninterrupted views of the bay.

North Fishermans Point Campground, Lincoln National ParkThe Granites near Streaky Bay

Next challenge, crossing the Nullarbor and heading into Western Australia …

Travel SA

South Australia’s tourism website has a dedicated section on sustainable travel, offering tips to nurture its nature and explore this stunning region with minimal impact.

South Australia’s EV Charging Network

530 chargers across 140 locations
98 per cent of chargers are less than 200km apart
75 per cent of stations are in rural SA
Powered by net 100 per cent renewables

The SA EV charging network

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