Electric 4WDs in remote Australia: plan the way out as carefully as the way in

Our starting position on electric touring is cautious. We can see the appeal for everyday driving with dependable charging. Before considering one for the family trips behind our Everest build, we would want convincing evidence of loaded range and a workable plan when weather changes the route. These are ownership priorities; we have not tested an electric 4WD on a remote trip.

An electric 4WD's place in Australian travel depends on the route. A weekend loop with charging at the start and finish asks something very different from several days between remote camps. Both can involve dirt roads; they should not share the same range assumption. Charging access, load and conditions are more useful dividing lines than the edge of suburbia.

Western Australia's charging network shows how much the regional picture has changed. Horizon Power's 2024–25 annual report records 110 charging points across 49 locations in the joint WA EV Network, spanning about 7,000 km. It also describes remote sites using standalone power systems and backup chargers. That is meaningful infrastructure for travelling between regions. It does not, by itself, establish charging coverage along a particular side track. Horizon Power's annual report, page 57

For a remote trip, begin with energy rather than the dashboard's predicted kilometres. Work out how much usable battery capacity sits between your intended departure charge and your chosen reserve. Divide that by a realistic consumption rate for the actual conditions. Then make sure the route—including any fallback—fits inside the result.

Here is a deliberately hypothetical example. It describes no particular vehicle and is not a claim about how an electric ute performs. Assume a 70 kWh usable battery, a departure charge of 90 per cent and a planned arrival reserve of 20 per cent. That leaves 49 kWh to spend on the leg.

The calculation is energy available divided by consumption, multiplied by 100. The rates are illustrative scenarios, not measured road, sand or towing figures. The reserve is an example too; a real trip may need more. What the table demonstrates is how quickly a route can stop fitting when energy use rises.

There is good reason to test the loaded vehicle. Horizon Power specifically notes that towing reduces range, particularly with larger, less aerodynamic loads. A trip plan based on an empty weekday commute can therefore give the wrong answer for the same vehicle carrying camping equipment and pulling a trailer. Horizon Power's towing guidance

Traction needs a separate assessment. Toyota, for example, says the HiLux BEV's terrain system adjusts motor torque and braking to reproduce a low-range effect. That illustrates why an EV's lack of conventional low range cannot, on its own, establish poor loose-surface performance. How well a particular vehicle crawls and restarts on sand still needs testing. Toyota's explanation of its electric drivetrain

The next check is the charging stop itself. Verify that the connector suits the vehicle, the location is accessible at the intended time and there is a usable alternative. The Australian Government advises drivers to check charger availability and explains that actual charging rates vary with the vehicle, battery state and charging conditions. A charger's headline power is not a guaranteed average for the whole stop. Australian Government charging guidance

For a campsite reached by a single access track, mark a turnaround decision in the plan. If actual consumption exceeds the allowance on the way in, where will you reassess? If weather closes the intended exit, can the battery cover the route back? A fallback that needs more energy than remains is only a line on the map.

Overnight charging can improve the fit considerably where suitable equipment is available and the property operator agrees to its use. Establish that arrangement before arrival. Treat an assumed power point at a station, campground or community as an unanswered question, not as part of the fuel budget.

Our view is that EVs already have a useful role in regional 4WD travel where the route and charging plan work together. Deeper remote travel demands vehicle-specific evidence, larger margins and credible alternatives. The destination should follow from those checks. That keeps the conversation focused on getting people to camp and home again, which is the useful measure for any touring vehicle.