Video of diesel generator powering remote electric-car chargers goes viral

A video of a diesel generator being used to power electric-car chargers has gone viral on social media, but the motoring association behind the chargers insists it's merely a "backup" solution for the remote solar-powered site.

Footage of the diesel generator running at an NRMA electric charging site in Erldunda in the Northern Territory was shared to Instagram on 27 October 2023, where it has since received 3.3 million views.

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"Look, it's an electric charger for an electric car – and right there, that is a diesel-powered generator, to run your electric charging point for your car," the man filming the video can be heard saying.

"That generator runs 24 hours of the day, seven days a week, we're saving the planet! Does it make a lot of sense to you? Because it doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

However, a spokesperson for the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) told Drive the site is part of a trial of "unique charging solutions" in remote parts of Australia, and the generator was being briefly tested when the video was filmed.

"It's a trial for what we might be using in the most regional parts of Australia, in towns not connected to the grid, or between towns, and the generator is a backup diesel generator they were just testing to see that it worked," the spokesperson said.

"There are solar panels there and battery banks installed that the solar panels will charge, but there is a diesel backup generator because you don't want somebody stuck in the middle of nowhere."

The testing was being conducted as part of the 2023 World Solar Challenge, which saw teams of university students travel 3000km across the Outback in self-made solar-powered vehicles.

The off-grid charging trial began in September 2023, with the NRMA sharing a media release claiming it is an "Australian-first [electric vehicle] fast-charging prototype".

The prototype site features two 75kW chargers, four charging bays and a number of battery banks – plus the backup generator for "enhanced reliability".

In a release detailing the trial, the NRMA explained: "This backup diesel-powered generator automatically switches on when the solar panels aren’t producing enough power and battery levels are low, typically after several overcast days. 

"During the trial, the backup generator may be used when vehicles are not charging as NRMA determines usage cases. NRMA is also considering the use of biodiesel at the site if distribution can be viably pinned down."

If the trial is successful, this "hybrid" charging solution will be deployed along remote routes such as the Stuart Highway, which runs between the Northern Territory and South Australia, and the Eyre Highway which links Western Australia and South Australia.

The NRMA is currently working with the Federal Government to establish a National Highway of electric vehicle charging consisting of 117 fast-charging sites around Australia.

The project has received almost $100 million in Government funding and will have a "focus on regional communities".

While the NRMA's electric car charging network has been free to use since 2017, the motoring body recently announced it would be introducing payment at its charging sites.

As of September 2023, NRMA fast-charging sites will cost between 54c/kW for chargers up to 150kW, up to 59c/kW for sites above 175kW. NRMA members will receive a 10 per cent discount.