Ever wondered what it’s like to take an electric vehicle on a road trip from Sydney to Melbourne and back? One of the team members at Evie did exactly this. He put his EV to the test with a 3,148km adventure from Sydney to Melbourne and back. With a few detours along the way, it was 13 days on the road with three adults, a very energetic 3-year-old, and one very capable BYD Seal.
Here’s how it went.
Charging on the road
Over the 13-day trip, he completed 14 public charging sessions using a mix of providers — including Evie, Tesla, and Chargefox. With a few known “charging deserts” in regional parts of southern New South Wales, the strategy was to charge opportunistically rather than waiting until the battery got low.
To stay prepared, he also packed a granny charger and took advantage of overnight charging at two different stops (both free, which was a bonus). A bit of forward planning and a flexible mindset made all the difference when it came to staying powered up. Great advice, if you ask us!
EV Performance on the Open Road
The BYD Seal proved to be a strong performer for long-distance travel. With a full car — three adults, a toddler, and luggage — it delivered a smooth, comfortable drive across the 3,148km journey.
He was joined for part of the trip by a friend driving a Kia EV6, which charges slightly faster. Nonetheless, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the Seal only took around 5–10 minutes longer to reach a full charge, despite having a larger battery.
Charging Highlights
One of the best parts of the road trip? Pulling into a charging bay that was:
- Available (always check charging apps for availability before rocking up)
- Working as expected
- Could deliver power at the car’s full capability (150kW in this case)
Pieter said, “When those three things align, charging feels seamless.” He also noted that charging locations with a café nearby kept the whole family happy, which is exactly why Evie focuses on installing chargers near great amenities. We want charging to fit into your everyday activities, not feel like a chore!
Final Thoughts
This road trip is a great example of what EV travel in Australia looks like today — the good, the slightly challenging, and the very doable. With some planning, a bit of flexibility, and a growing network of fast chargers, long-distance travel in an EV isn’t just possible — it’s actually enjoyable.
It’s a reminder of how far Australia’s public charging network has come, and how convenient EV travel can be with the right infrastructure in place.
Planning a road trip in an EV? Find Evie chargers along the way!
