BATHURST is becoming more and more attractive to people who drive electric vehicles.
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Two new electric vehicle charging stations have been installed outside the Bathurst Rail Museum, just as the facility has reopened for the first time in months.
This takes the city's number of charging stations up to 12, with seven located near the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre, two at the Armada shopping centre and one at Abercrombie House.
Bathurst Regional Council hopes the two new charging stations will encourage visitors to explore the city's attractions while they are waiting for their vehicles to charge.
Councillor John Fry is certainly happy to see the number of charging stations growing in Bathurst.
"It's a bit of a case of if you build them, they will come, because you have the charging stations in place before people have the confidence to purchase or lease an electric car," he said.
"I think the more charging stations we have in Bathurst, it gives us an advantage for tourism and other visitors to Bathurst, encouraging people to come up here in their electric cars.
"It will give people confidence [to use electric vehicles] and Bathurst, being in that three hour range from Sydney, is an ideal spot for people to stop and recharge."
He feels that the location of the newest charging stations, out the front of the rail museum, was smart.
"I think it's a pretty good location because it's not bad access to the Keppel Street precinct and it also gives people time to have a look at that museum," Cr Fry said.
"Then it's a short stroll up into town to Machattie Park and all the shops and cafes."
The charging stations have also become available at a time when COVID-19 restrictions are easing and more people are looking to travel.
Bathurst could be an ideal location for a weekend getaway, particularly for electric vehicle owners.
"Overseas travel is very limited at the moment and it's likely to be for quite some time, and I think people will be looking for regional destinations, so a weekend away in Bathurst is a perfect solution," Cr Fry said.
He feels "the floodgates are about to open", bringing more affordable and reliable electric vehicles into the market.
If that occurs, he has no doubt the number of electric vehicles on the road will grow quite quickly and Bathurst will be in a great position to accommodate them.
Cr Fry is eager to see more charging stations rolled out across Bathurst and expects council will continue to introduce them over the coming years, as well as increase its use of electric vehicles.