RAA’s electric and green credentials are shifting up a gear with the first Patrol E-Van hitting South Australian roads this week.

The new Patrol E-Van has been launched at the same time as RAA starts to offer a new emergency EV charging service, to enable stranded EV drivers to get to their nearest charging location if they run out of power.

RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says the all-electric Patrol van is out servicing members from this week, identifiable by the splash of green on the back of the vehicle.

“As one of the founding members of the South Australian government’s Fleet Pledge Program, we are actively transitioning our corporate fleet to electric vehicles.

“This is a first and significant step for RAA in transitioning our patrol fleet to an all-electric one.”

The 100 per cent electric Peugeot E-Partner van has been leased to RAA as part of a six-month trial and will inform the long-term transition of its Patrol fleet.

RAA is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and improve its green credentials, and is continually taking steps to reduce its emissions. 

Nick Reade says the emergency charging service, also launching this week on a six-month trial basis, was another way RAA was helping to solve range anxiety for EV drivers.

“At RAA we’re well on the road to solving this problem – both through this new mobile charging service and the statewide EV charging network, RAA Charge, which is set to be complete in 2024.

“From this week, South Australian EV drivers will have the confidence that if they do run out of charge on the road, we’ll be there to rescue them with our emergency mobile charging device.”

The mobile charging technology will operate out of a dedicated Patrol van, based at RAA’s Mile End site and will be dispatched to any member in the metro area as needed.

Previously, RAA would have to organise for any ‘flat’ EV to be towed to the nearest charging site or member’s address.

Latest sales data shows electric vehicle sales in South Australia are more than doubling year on year – 6.8 per cent of new cars purchased in 2023 were EVs, up from just 2.7 per cent in 2022. 

There are currently an estimated 7,000 electric vehicles on the road in South Australia.