For decades, crossing the Nullarbor was the ultimate Australian rite of passage. It was a journey defined by noise, dust, and the smell of diesel. You packed jerry cans, checked your fan belts, and prepared for the relentless drone of the engine fighting the headwinds of the Great Australian Bight.
For early EV adopters, it was even more daunting. It meant begging roadhouse owners for access to 3-phase industrial sockets behind sheds, waiting 8 hours for a charge, and driving at 80km/h to conserve electrons.
Welcome to 2026.
The “gap” is gone. The jerry cans are obsolete. And the Nullarbor has gone quiet.
Thanks to the completion of the WA EV Network and the RAA Charge border-to-border rollout, driving an electric vehicle from Adelaide to Perth is no longer an “expedition”—it’s a road trip. At EV Evolution, we believe this is the best way to see the country. Here is the reality of crossing the continent on electrons in 2026.
🔌 The Infrastructure: No More “Charger Deserts”
The days of the dreaded 500km “charging black hole” between Ceduna and the WA border are over.
Through a combination of State Government initiatives and the Federal “Driving the Nation” fund (partnered with the NRMA), the Eyre Highway is now dotted with reliable DC fast chargers.
- Western Australia (The Horizon Power Leg): The WA EV Network is a triumph of engineering. From Norseman to Eucla, you now have high-speed chargers at Balladonia, Caiguna, Cocklebiddy, and Mundrabilla. These aren’t just single plugs; they are robust sites often backed by solar and battery storage to stabilize the remote grid.
- South Australia (The RAA Leg): The RAA Charge network has successfully electrified the eastern approach. Critical fast chargers are operational at Ceduna, Penong, Nullarbor Roadhouse, and Border Village.
The Result: The average distance between chargers is now comfortably under 200km. Even a standard-range BYD Atto 3 or MG4 can hop across the continent without breaking a sweat, let alone long-range cruisers like the Kia EV9.
🤫 The “Silence” of the Nullarbor
There is something profound about driving an EV across the Nullarbor that petrol drivers will never understand.
In a diesel 4WD, the journey is a battle against the noise. The engine roars, the wind howls, and the radio struggles to compete.
In an EV, the battle ends. You glide.
Cruising the Bunda Cliffs in silence allows you to actually connect with the landscape. You hear the wind whipping off the Southern Ocean. You spot wildlife sooner because they don’t hear you coming. You arrive in Norseman not exhausted and vibrating from engine harmonics, but fresh and relaxed. This is the EV Evolution angle: we aren’t just replacing fuel; we are upgrading the experience.
🗺️ Realistic Advice: Planning the 2,700km Crossing
While the infrastructure is there, the Nullarbor demands respect. It is still remote, the weather is extreme, and 4G signal is patchy. Here is our 2026 survival guide for the electric explorer.
1. Respect the Headwind
The Nullarbor is famous for its relentless westerly winds. A 40km/h headwind can slash your EV’s real-world range by 20% to 30%.
- The Fix: If you are driving a Kia EV9 with a 500km range, plan as if you only have 350km. Always leave a “wind buffer” when skipping a charger.
2. Connectivity is King (RFID Cards)
Many remote chargers rely on internet connections to start a session via an app. If the local Telstra tower is down, your app won’t work.
- The Fix: Order physical RFID cards for Chargefox and other networks before you leave. They often work offline or initiate a charge faster than a buggy app connection in the desert.
3. Download Offline Maps
Tesla navigation is great, but even Starlink has dead zones. Ensure you have PlugShare and ABRP (A Better Routeplanner) maps downloaded for offline use. You need to know where the next charger is, even if you have zero bars of reception.
4. The “Plan B” Cable
While the DC network is robust, redundancy is key. Always carry a portable Type 2 to 3-Pin (10A or 15A) charger. In a worst-case scenario (e.g., a site power outage), you can still trickle charge from a powered caravan site or roadhouse cabin to get you to the next town.
🚙 The Perfect Vehicle: Why the Kia EV9 Wins
While you can do this trip in a Tesla Model 3, the Kia EV9 has emerged as the Nullarbor king of 2026.
- The Range: Its massive 99.8kWh battery eats up the long stints between roadhouses.
- The Comfort: It’s a lounge room on wheels, perfect for the 12-hour driving days.
- V2L (Vehicle-to-Load): Pull over at the Head of the Bight, plug your espresso machine into the car, and have the best coffee of your life watching whales. That is touring redefined.
🤖 Join the Evolution: Let AI Plan Your Adventure
You don’t need to sit with a calculator and a map for three hours to plan this trip. We have fed the entire Eyre Highway charging network into our brain.
Don’t guess your range.
At EV Evolution, we encourage you to try chatting with our AI-powered chatbot today. It is trained on the distances between Nullarbor roadhouses, the real-world consumption of specific EVs at 110km/h, and the locations of the new fast chargers.
Ask the Chatbot today:
- “Plan a charging route from Adelaide to Perth for a Kia EV9 Earth, assuming a 10% headwind buffer.”
- “What is the distance between the Nullarbor Roadhouse and Border Village chargers?”
- “List all the charging stops on the Eyre Highway that have cafes nearby.”
About EV Evolution
EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.
