A wrong turn out of the RAAF base

Wagga Wagga 2024

We left the graduation ceremony at the RAAF base, turned right, when we should have turned left. This gave us an unexpected 40km half hour exploration of the back suburbs, Gobbagombalin (where our RAAF graduating son and young family are moving), the Murrumbidgee River, Gumly Gumly (our motel), plus the local EV chargers.

Charging

On the way from Emerald to Wagga Wagga yesterday, we only charged when we stopped anyway for rest breaks. So, we arrived with only about 25% charge. We figured we’d charge up today while exploring the local area.

We stopped briefly at the ultrafast Tesla v4 superchargers. It charged us at 153kW, close to our car’s maximum of 170kW. The charger is capable of twice that speed. It’s out the back of a hotel in a car park with a locking gate. The Tesla navigation tells you the gate access code, in case you need it. It’s a short walk across the road to fast food such as Macca’s, but the area is pretty suburban, rather than a nice rest stop.

We moved on to the 50kW NRMA charger next to a park on the Murrumbidgee River. Slower than the Tesla chargers but much prettier location for a stroll.

While wandering along the river levee bank, I also discovered a nearby 22kW AC charger (limited to 11kW by our Tesla). It’s 28c per kWh, about half the price of the NRMA charger, but a quarter of the speed and you have to provide your own cable. A reasonable option if you have a lot of time to spare and can be bothered with your own cable.

Great to have options. In summary:

  1. Tesla Superchargers. Up to 170kW. 68c/kWh. Suburbia. Fast food nearby.
  2. NRMA charger. 50kW. 60c/kWh (-10% for NRMA/RACV members). Park, river and amenities nearby.
  3. Smart Charge destination charger. BYO cable. 11/22kW. 28c/kWh. Park, river and amenities nearby.

The best option would simply be a power point at our accommodation. Charge while we sleep.

4 comments

  1. Wagga RSL club has 4 22kw chargers that are free. 2 in the accommodation and 2 in the carpark. Good for a charge over lunch in the Chinese restaurant
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  2. Tesla Tripping Wagga Wagga SC V4 68c, NRMA 60c - as it is a tritium, the reliability is a little suss. Also there is a 25kW charger 35c at Middy's, East Wagga (cnr Stuart Rd and Sturt Hwy) . Of course #CWYS charge while you sleep is best.....
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    1. Biing Yin Thanks for the corrections. Fixed above ☺️.
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  3. We stopped at those Wagga Superchargers at the Rules Club recently. They are great.
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