Tthe following electric car road trip diary is written by Stan Gorton, a South Australian EV enthusiast who lives on Kangaroo Island with his dog Twiggy and a MY24 Polestar 2 long-range single motor.
Did someone say roadtrip?
I decided to drive my Polestar 2 long-range road trip machine from Kangaroo Island to the Everything Electric Australia 2024 show in Sydney, a distance of 3200 km return.
My 2024 model year refreshed Polestar 2 long-range single motor has an 82kWh battery, which is relatively large these days, although I never charge above 90 per cent to preserve battery life.
if the battery is full it is capable of 650km mixed city, highway driving or about 500km driving at 110km/hr.
I am not sponsored by Polestar or anyone else and pay for own trips. I was issued a press pass to the Everything Electric show.
How much did the whole trip cost to drive?
Final trips stats for this epic 7-day roadtrip from Kangaroo Island to the Everything Electric Sydney show and back:
- Total distance was 3,202.6km
- Efficiency of 16.7 kWh/100km
- Time behind wheel was 36:44 hours
- Average speed of 90km/h
Upon my return I was asked about the cost of my EV trip compared to petrol.
I worked out my trip cost $267 in paid electricity charging.
However it could have been closer to $200 had I used cheaper charger networks instead of Tesla and if I’d chosen slower chargers rather than mostly the highest speed premium locations.
The trade off is that Tesla chargers are the most reliable and the super fast 250kW-350kW rate Evie, Chargefox etc locations save time compared to using a 50kW charger.
In comparison the estimated cost of driving a 2024 Corolla for 3200 kilometers on the highway with petrol at $2 per litre would be: $366 for a 2.0L: and $326 for a Hybrid.
For interest’s sake, a Mazda BT-50 would have cost $598.
Day 1 – Kingscote, Kangaroo Island to Bendigo via Victor Harbor, Tailem Bend, Keith and Horsham
The first step was getting on the ferry at Penneshaw and undergoing the new SeaLink’s new EV regime that consists of being inspected, having the battery temperature checked and lining up in certain lanes to be parked at the back of the ferry.
It’s no real inconvenience as it only takes a few seconds, but it’s being singled out, giving the haters and skeptics ammunition, and being banned from ferry trips that are transporting the fuel truck which irks me.
The good news is that SeaLink now assures me that when the new roll-on, roll-off ferries arrive in 2025, this regime will be abandoned.
Anyway, after making it across fine, I travelled through Victor Harbor, stopping for a quick car wash to rid the Polestar of the salt spray from sitting at the back and also the dust from KI’s incessant road works.
I decided to do the first charge at bank of Tesla Superchargers Tailem Bend as this is nicely on the route and attached to the conveniences and always available.
In hindsight, I wished I stopped slightly earlier at the Evie ultra-rapid 350kw charger also at Tailem Bend, as this is also attached to a service station and cheaper.
After going through my options on the Polestar’s Google route planner, I decided to do a quick top up at the ultra rapid ChargeFox station at Keith before hitting another ChargeFox ultra at Horsham.
Both these charges happened quickly and smoothly and I did run into my only other EV seen at the chargers, an EV6 at Keith.
I arrived at the Central Deborah Motel in Bendigo at 6.40pm after a long day of driving.
Connected the Polestar to the motel’s destination overnight charger, free if you book ahead, then headed across the road at the National Hotel having a “safety”, otherwise known as a chicken parmigiana.
Final stats for the day
- Distance: 773.5 km
- Efficiency: 17.2 kWh/100km
- Time behind wheel: 08:52 hours
- Average speed: 90 km/h
Day 2 – Bendigo to Sydney via Albury and Yass
Then the next day for the second leg of the Sydney trip, I headed to the first Tesla V4 charge station in Australia at the Albury Commercial Club.
A total of 16 chargers all under cover and next to the big club, which is nice.
After plugging in, I had a good chat with the service technician who was up from Melbourne about all things charging.
You pay more for reliability is what we decided.
Interestingly, before setting off that morning my Google assistant told me the Albury V4s were not open to non Teslas, but a quick check of PlugShare told me it was, so continued there.
This has now apparently been fixed by Google, perhaps because of my feedback!
Then it was on to the big bank of 12 Superchargers at Yass, for a second Tesla charge of the day, again picked for its reliability and open spots.
Charger 1D failed to connect so moved to 2A and got 180kw briefly at the start. Charged from 23 per cent to 85 per cent to get to the Pullman Hotel at Sydney Olympic Park. Cost $44.20 for 52kWh.
Saw lots more EVs on the freeway than yesterday’s back roads, including a Tesla minus a front wheel on the roadside at Gundagai!
Arrived at Sydney Olympic Park at 6pm with 35 per cent state of charge after making it through hectic rush hour traffic.
There was a great view of the Everything Electric show venue from my room on the 15th floor of the Pullman Hotel.
Parked the Polestar in one of two Tesla destination equipped EV spots in the basement car park ready to charge before I left Sunday.
Driving stats for the second day: Bendigo to Sydney Olympic Park
- Distance: 818.8 km
- Efficiency: 16.4 kWh/100km
- Time behind wheel: 8:50 hours
- Average speed: 96km/h
Days 3 and 4 – Everything Electric Australia 2024
Test driving 10 cars at Everything Electric
I can report that after my great drive, I had a fantastic time at the Everything Electric show at Sydney Olympic Park.
I test drove 10 cars over the Friday and Saturday, as well as listening to a several panels and checked out all the renewable energy and charging displays.
The cars I tested were the much anticipated Hyundai Ioniq 5N, the newly unveiled Renault Megane E-Tech, BMW’s new more affordable i4 35, as well as the BMW iX3, the amazing $250,000-plus Audi e-tron GT and all the way down to the Peugeot ePartner, with an eye to electric van living.
Then on Saturday I tested the plush and high-tech Genesis GV60, the ultimate sleeper the MG4 X-Power, and the very affordable and capable BYD Dolphin and new kid BYD Seal.
Loved the Genesis GV60, very plush and stylish and at the top end at around $120k, but also impressed with the quality and drive of both the BYD Dolphin and BYD Seal 3.8 performance model.
The MG4 is another great affordable option and is my recommendation to others, but wasn’t able to properly test the limits of the crazy X-Power.
Both the Audi and Ioniq 5N were impressive but needed a track to test property, and I’m not sure I’m a fan of the piped in engine noises. I didn’t get to try the grin mode either!
It was interesting to have active and accomplished racing car drivers taking us for the tests in many of the cars.
The BMW i4 would be a good competitor for my Polestar 2, but I am now happy that I made the right decision and my own car is still my favourite and the most capable road trip machine.
I’m very, very happy with the 300hp in my RWD Polestar 2as it flies along and overtakes like a rocket!
Also checked out the both luxurious and awesome Lotus Eletre and the Polestar 3 that were on static display.
Apart from the actual cars and displays, it was great to catch up with a bunch of like-minded, caring people.
This included a couple of Kiwi YouTuber blokes, Gavin Shoebridge from Ecotricity Youtube channel and Richard Edwards from EVs and Beyond YouTube channel.
At the show panel discussion “How to make long distance roadtrips a reality”, I was a little surprised with the negativity of the panel.
I would have loved to have been up there to let people know it can be done relatively easily.
Sure there are issues but we need to encourage people not scare them…just get out there and do it is what I say.
Among the stall holders I met were two lovely ladies came all the way from China and were missing their family on Chinese New Year but were stoked I had bought their Level 2 depow charging cable on EBay.
As a result of this discussion, I hope to test some of the excellent depow charging products.
I ended my time at the Everything Electric show at the discussion and drinks organised by Koba car insurance and Tom Gan from the Ludicrous Feed YouTube channel.
It was great to hear about Evie’s plans for its charging network, how Koba insurance can work with data collected in exchange for cheaper rates, and also to have a chat with Mark Harland from BYD Australia.
Day 5 – Sydney to Bendigo via Pheasants Nest, Yass, Albury
Sunday morning and after two great days at Everything Electric, it was time to hit the road back to Kangaroo Island.
The Polestar charged to 90 per cent overnight in the hotel basement and was ready to go in the morning.
Left Sydney just before 8am and arrived at Central Deborah Hotel in Bendigo at 6pm with 23 per cent left in the battery cells.
For the day’s drive, I did three charging sessions, the first being a quick breakfast break charge at the fantastic AmpCharge station at Pheasants Nest.
Then it was on to the same two Tesla chargers at Yass and Albury.
Needing to stretch the legs, I went for a walk around the stunning old Main Street, and enjoyed a kebab and a mango sorbet.
The day’s trip stats were:
- 821.7 km travelled
- Efficiency of 16.0 kWh/100km
- Three charging sessions costing $49 for 84kWh of juice
- 08:49 hours behind the wheel
- 96 km/h was the average speed
Day 6 – Bendigo to Victor Harbour via Horsham, Kaniva, Bordertown, Keith, Coonalpyn, Tailem Bend
After spending Monday working on my day job out of the hotel room, Tuesday was the day to continue my journey.
It reached 40 degrees in Bendigo that Monday, and the poor car read 48 degrees when I moved into the shade that afternoon.
Luckily I knew it was coming and only charged to 31 per cent when I arrived on Sunday evening as a full battery is not good sitting in extreme hot weather.
And it was not a good day to travel the Wimmera Highway with Catastrophic Fire Danger, headwinds and possible power outages, which did indeed eventuate elsewhere in Victoria.
So I overnight charged in the evening once it had cooled down, and at first light around 6am with 90 per cent state of charge.
I travelled along the cool of the morning along the Wimmera Highway arriving at 9am at my first charge point at the Horsham ChargeFox 350kw rapid charger, where I also checked out my first magnificent silo art.
Then it was on to Kaniva where at 11am I had a brunch of a pastie and a vanilla slice while charging at the 50kw Evie station, afterwards checking out my second silo art of the day.
After crossing the SA border, I checked out the white kangaroos and also the almost-completed RAA rapid charging station at Bordertown, which is due for commissioning on February 28.
Continuing on I checked out the Land Rover on a pole at Keith and my third silo art of the day at Coonalpyn, before getting my third and final charge at the Evie 350kw rapid charger at Tailem Bend at 2.10pm.
Was not able to make it in time to the last available ferry this afternoon, so stopped in at the Murray Valley Standard to say hello to my newspaper colleagues.
Arrived at Victor Harbour at about 5.30pm and decided to pitch the tent at an unpowered site at the NRMA Victor Harbour Foreshore Holiday Park, which offers a bank of 7kw overnight chargers.
The day’s trip details:
- 660.1 km travelled
- Efficiency was 17.4 kWh/100km – impacted on by strong winds
- 07:46 hours behind the wheel
- 88 km/h for average speed
- Charging costs $61.33 for 93.5kWh
Day 6 – Victor Harbour to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
The final 128km leg home in the Polestar from Victor Harbor to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island included the ferry trip.
I didn’t even see the ferry crew inspect or temperature test my vehicle, they must have done it while I was getting a tea from the cafe – so again, the regime is not really an inconvenience, more of an annoyance.
Then finally it was through the island’s extensive roadworks to be reunited with a very happy dog Twiggy.
She is definitely coming with me on my next road trip, as I will search out dog-friendly accommodation.
The car finally got her wash, getting rid of 3,200km worth of road grime and smashed bugs, looking back as brand new after clocking over 14,000km since delivery on November 2.
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