156 Brisbane car parks could power EV charging with solar panels
Solar canopies at 156 Brisbane car parks could generate 1.93 gigawatt-hours annually to charge electric vehicles.
Queensland University of Technology studied 10 busy car parks, shopping centres and park-and-ride sites, finding solar canopies could generate enough power to charge more than 31,000 vehicles each year.
The research examined solar potential, charging demand, grid capacity, and tree shade. The best sites had large parking areas, strong charging demand, and good transport links.
Mount Gravatt Shopping Centre was identified as particularly suitable. For apartment dwellers without home charging access, car-park solar could make EV ownership possible.
Commuter park-and-rides are ideal because vehicles park for hours during daylight. Solar canopies provide shade and cooling.
- 156 Brisbane car parks
- Locations identified
- 1.93 gigawatt-hours
- Annual generation
- More than 31,000
- Vehicles chargeable annually
- Mount Gravatt Shopping Centre
- Top site
Why it mattersAustralia has just one charging point for every 52.7 electric vehicles. Solar car-park charging could close that gap without straining the grid or needing new infrastructure.
AustraliaBrisbane and other Australian cities could accelerate EV adoption by using existing car parks as charging hubs, reducing reliance on coal-fired grid power.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
