What about hybrid vehicles?

@PCLoadLetter​ That is a very good point. My eldest was thinking of a Corolla or Yaris and a month ago they said it was up to 18 months wait. I will definitely take your advice re charging stations out west.

@incazo_ian​ Note that you can probably get a Model Y or Model 3 in a couple of months. You mentioned towing elsewhere so I'll assume you want a Model Y.

Which means you might have that EV (with basically the current charging infrastructure) for a year or so before a hypothetical hybrid would even have been delivered.

Which means heading out west will involve some planning. Charging can be sketchy in a lot of places. But if you have, umm, good spirits and loose plans, it's probably still doable :)

The NRMA network can already get you up to Bourke, or out to Broken Hill, or to Hay & Mildura & across to Adelaide. More obscure places may require the mobile connector (Tesla optional extra) and perhaps also some round plug adapters (third party optional extras). But it's electricity. You can get it just about everywhere.

The NRMA network can get me to Moree, but alas it can't get me back again. No huge issue, since I'm there for a week, thus trickle charging is an option. It just means having an awkward talk with the caravan park staff. Their owner isn't keen on EVs. As a pre-existing regular who's moderately literate with the park's power limitations, he has his staff assign me a cabin in a row along the back fence line, that's got fewer limitations than most other sites (2 customers per 60 amp breaker instead of 4). I then charge at 8 amps for two nights (I don't charge afternoons/evenings, as that's when the park's grid is stressed). I also pause the charge when I run the kettle, toaster or microwave. It's not critical that I do any of this, as those sites aren't stressed, but it's a courtesy. And I proactively tell them to add $20 excess power usage to my bill when I check in.

If I was at some showgrounds, I might be able to use the 15 amp plug, or better yet, one of the 20 or 32 amp round plugs (third party purchase required). That'd get me going again much, much sooner. 32 amps is 7 hours empty to full, at most. And if I only need half a charge to get me to the next real charger, then I'm only there half as long.

I don't mean to make this daunting. Just saying that things aren't impossible. Being along for the ride as the network slowly gets filled out will give you a sense of achievement.

I'm only 2½ years in, with 184,342km under my belt, including 5 round trips to Moree. I cumulatively notice my trip get a little easier every time I make it. It's the early adopter rush. I hated the detour to NRMA Pokolbin, or worse, Tesla's Supercharger at Jerry's Plains. Both are so indirect. I'm eagerly looking forward to Evie Cameron Park being open before my next trip, as NRMA Wallsend was vandalised on my last one, and I despise driving up THAT ramp at the Tesla Supercharger at Tuggerah.

One day I'll be one of those geezers who'll say "Back in my day, I had to carry 2 barrel adapters, an enormous 2-to-2 cable, a mobile connector, and 5 tails for the connector, to charge anywhere I wanted. You young whippersnappers with your DC chargers everywhere will never understand what it's like to walk uphill to school both directions, 12 miles each way, barefoot in the snow". Oh, wait, I'm getting my wires crossed!

We've had a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for about 6 years and have been happy with it - although it was initially bought as an 'interim' vehicle while we waited for a suitable EV. We still haven't replaced it as it's great for long trips, where the regenerative braking keeps the electric system topped up. Our fuel economy on long trips is about 6.5-7 Litres/100 km. It's also quiet and comfortable. The latest model has a larger battery that ours so you should get ~80 km from a single charge, making it possible to do local driving almost entirely on battery power. If you can charge it at home from your rooftop solar you're a real winner!