The first in a planned national network of free electric vehicle charging stations have been switched on, as part of an initiative supported by major car makers and local councils.
Motorists can plug-in at the townships of Nhill and Rainbow in Victoria's west, with another 98 free chargers set to be rolled out across the nation by mid-2021.
The stations will be spaced about 100km apart so the growing number of elective vehicles on Australian roads can more easily recharge.
Major car manufacturers Jaguar, Landrover, BMW, Skoda and Volkswagen have given the project the thumbs up.
They're helping pay for the network's infrastructure costs, while participating regional councils are providing public parking locations for the stations and covering installation costs.
"Until now, charging locations for EVs have been confined to cities and a small number of major travel routes like Sydney to Melbourne," Linga Network founder Adrian Kinderis said.
"We're overcoming the major infrastructure roadblock to EV ownership - 'charge anxiety' - while supporting regional communities through tourism, economic activity and a boost to their sustainability credentials.
"Why not use the time it takes to top up the charge on your vehicle by exploring one of Victoria's many beautiful country towns?"
The stations will take approximately one hour to reach a 20 per cent charge per vehicle, which is the current average charging time for Australia's 20,000 EV owners.
Mr Kinderis said Nhill and Rainbow were selected for stations because of their remote location, which previously would have been difficult for EV drivers to visit.
"This is a really exciting step for Hindmarsh Shire and has the potential to change the face of tourism in regional town centres," Hindmarsh Shire Council - which takes in Nhill - mayor Ron Ismay said.
"The program will play an important role in bridging the divide between metropolitan and regional Victoria."
Linga Network is coordinating the roll-out of charging stations, with Mr Kinderis saying he hopes to have stations across the country by the end of 2021.
