The City of Launceston council began installing the charging station in the Paterson St East car park.

Mayor Albert van Zetten said the $65,000 project would also include a 22kW AC electric vehicle charger installed in the car park, with plans for chargers to also be installed in the new C. H Smith car park.

“Electric vehicle sales are predicted to keep climbing, and one of the things that will be necessary for that is improved access to the charging infrastructure that is required,” Alderman van Zetten said.

Construction on the charger has begun, with excavation completed for the footings and the slabs laid.

The majority of the electrical work has also been completed.

“The fast charge system we are installing is a Tasmanian first and will mean electric vehicles can be charged in about 30 minutes, which is going to be useful for people travelling long distances with Launceston either as the destination or a point along the journey,” Alderman van Zetten said.

The chargers will be installed in the city over the next couple of weeks.