Powering travelling tourists just got a boost in Bridport with the installation of an electric vehicle charging station.
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Bridport Innovations were the pioneers behind the installation with support from the ACT community fund and Dorset Council.
Despite just 500 electric cars currently registered on the roads of Tasmania, other electric charging stations in the North West have been frequented by interstate cars.
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Bridport Innovations president Jill Van den Bosch said she hoped the charging station would encourage more tourists to the area and current residents to think more green.
"Our group saw the need for a charger to encourage visitors and residents making the change to environmentally cleaner transport," she said.
Group treasurer Len Gillett said the charger was a step in the direction of forming a "comprehensive charging station network" for a growing electric car market.
The Bridport charger takes between three and four hours to fully charge a car but can supply enough energy in one hour for a 120km trip.
While more powerful recharging spots exist around the state, the 22kW version in Bridport is described as a "destination" charger.
RACT chief member experience officer Stacey Pennicott said RACT would contribute to traveller enthusiasm for the region.
"[It is] ideal for the growing number of people visiting Bridport for day trips or overnight, which will further benefit tourism and the local economy," she said.
The Electrical Vehicle Association's Clive Attwater said smaller tourists destinations were the ideal spot for "destination" chargers.
"Places like Bridport stand to benefit from chargers like this because even though they're not the fastest they're filling in the network to give visitors confidence that they can get a top-up in a lot of places where fast charging is not available," he said.
Ms Van den Bosch said that what the town had to offer made up for the potential time spent waiting for an electric car to charge.
"It will allow owners some leisure time in the middle of the town while their vehicle charges up and that could have a flow-on benefit to some of our businesses," Ms Van den Bosch said.
The station is on Main Street, Bridport, outside the visitor centre. There is a $10 flat fee for use of the charger which is in operation from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon daily.
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