Perth family bound for Broome on a nine-month EV journey around Australia

The McLennans from Perth have embarked on an ambitious nine-month journey around Australia in an electric vehicle towing a pop-up caravan, with the family set to hit Broome in the coming weeks. Tim and Renee McLennan, with their children Ellie, 10, and Xavier, 7, began their adventure on March 22, heading north from Perth with plans to traverse the continent in a sustainable manner. The family’s vehicle is equipped with solar-powered appliances and has undergone modifications to improve its aerodynamics, making it one of the first EVs in Australia capable of towing a large pop-up caravan over long distances. Mr McLennan said after making their home completely electrical, he thought why not do the same with his caravan setup. “Essentially we wanted to get the family to experience the classic lap of Australia but we thought, we’ve electrified everything at home, can we do it as an electrified trip around Australia as well?” he said. “(We) wanted to prove that it is possible and start the ball rolling.” As of last week, the family had reached Geraldton, with their next major destination being Broome. Their route will then take them from Broome to Darwin and down the east coast of Australia with a potential detour to Tasmania. The McLennans have carefully planned their journey, setting off just before WA’s EV network is complete, to ensure they can power their journey before they cross into the Northern Territory. Calculating a maximum distance of 270km between charging stations, the McLennans are confident they can make the journey without running out of power. This EV charging network is part of a larger initiative by WA power utilities Synergy and Horizon, which are rolling out an EV highway expected to be completed in the coming months. The highway will feature charging stations from Kununurra in the far north to Eyre on the South Australian border, which will facilitate electric vehicle travel across the State and allow EVs to become a viable long-distance travel option.