The Shire of Toodyay has used the 2019 local leg of the Targa West Rally to launch an electric car-charging station in the main town.
The four-day event, which travels through Perth, Whiteman Park, Muchea, Ellenbrook, Kalamunda, Parkerville, Chittering Bullsbrook, Malaga and Toodyay, was in the Avon Valley town on Saturday, August 10.
As part of the event festivities, Shire of Toodyay president Brian Rayner, chief executive Stan Scott and councillors Judy Dow and Bill Manning attended the launch of the town's first electric car-charging station.
Electric service provider GEMtek Automation staff Florian Pop and Edward Kestel drove their electric Tesla Roadster to Toodyay for the launch.
Australian Electric Vehicle Association committee member Joseph Law, who was the first person to race an electric car in the Targa West Rally and complete, was also in attendance.
The installation of the power station was made possible following the Shire's successful application for a Sustainable Community Grant from Wheatbelt Natural Resouce Management through the National Landcare Program.
The idea for a charging station in Toodyay came from a suggestion from a member of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association and the Tesla Owners Club after visiting the town in 2017, with the opportunity to fund the station coming up not long after.
The cost of the project was $12,891 of which the Shire is contributing $1250.
EVE Australia Pty Ltd supplied the charging station equipment, which includes two charger points.
One vehicle is estimated to take 60 minutes to charge and depending upon the car make and model will provide 120km of driving.
Users supply their own charging cable with access and payment made wireless through a smart phone app.
Shire of Toodyay chief executive Stan Scott said the project would help transition Toodyay into a leading electric town.
"The installation of the EV station is helping to establish an 'electric highway' to Toodyay with charging points already installed in Midland, Gidgegannup and Merredin," he said.
"Council adopted an Environmental Management Strategy in 2015 and the EV charging station compliments this strategy.
"It is yet another innovative concept and attraction that Toodyay has embraced."