Melbourne to Bendigo in an EV
Melbourne to Bendigo is about 152 km on the Calder Freeway, around 2 hours of driving. There are 5 fast-charging stops along the way, and the longest gap between chargers is 37 km (Melbourne to Highway stop). 266 of the 266 EV versions we track can do it, most with no charging stops. 173 of them can get there and back on one charge. There are 5 fast-charger sites near Bendigo for the trip home.Bendigo to Melbourne is about 152 km on the Calder Freeway, around 2 hours of driving. There are 5 fast-charging stops along the way, and the longest gap between chargers is 37 km (Highway stop to Melbourne). 266 of the 266 EV versions we track can do it, most with no charging stops. 173 of them can get there and back on one charge. There are 43 fast-charger sites near Melbourne for the trip home.
Can your car do it?
Uses highway range: about 75% of the claimed range at 100–110 km/h. Leave home full, fast charge to 80% and arrive with at least 10%. Charging costs assume home power for the first battery and 70c/kWh at fast chargers. Driving the same trip in a typical petrol SUV costs about $27.00 in fuel.
Fast-charging stops on the way
In order from Melbourne, with the gap from the previous stop.
| Stop | From Melbourne | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| MelbournePlenty of fast chargers | 0 km | |
| Highway stopEvie · 4 km off the highway | 37 km | 37 km |
| MacedonEvie | 62 km | 25 km |
| WoodendCharging the Regions · up to 50 kW | 69 km | 7 km |
| KynetonEvie, Charging the Regions · up to 50 kW | 86 km | 17 km |
| CastlemaineCharging the Regions · 6 km off the highway | 116 km | 30 km |
| BendigoPlenty of fast chargers | 152 km | 36 km |
* Tesla Superchargers: many are open to all EVs through the Tesla app, but some are Tesla-only. We leave Tesla-only stops out of the plan for other cars. Power is the fastest charger listed at that stop, where known.
In order from Bendigo, with the gap from the previous stop.
| Stop | From Bendigo | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| BendigoPlenty of fast chargers | 0 km | |
| CastlemaineCharging the Regions · 6 km off the highway | 36 km | 36 km |
| KynetonEvie, Charging the Regions · up to 50 kW | 66 km | 30 km |
| WoodendCharging the Regions · up to 50 kW | 83 km | 17 km |
| MacedonEvie | 90 km | 7 km |
| Highway stopEvie · 4 km off the highway | 115 km | 25 km |
| MelbournePlenty of fast chargers | 152 km | 37 km |
* Tesla Superchargers: many are open to all EVs through the Tesla app, but some are Tesla-only. We leave Tesla-only stops out of the plan for other cars. Power is the fastest charger listed at that stop, where known.
Route map
Green dots are fast-charging stops; grey are Tesla-only. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
EV-friendly places to stay
We couldn't find any caravan parks or campsites on the map with a charger along this route yet. Many parks will let you plug into a 10 amp or 15 amp powered site, so ask when you book. NRMA Parks and Resorts has added chargers at many of its parks around Australia.
Tips for this trip
- Check chargers before you go. Chargers do break down or get busy, especially on holiday weekends. The PlugShare app shows recent check-ins from other drivers.
- Charge to 80%, not 100%. Fast charging slows right down above 80%, so two short stops are usually quicker than one long one.
- Speed costs range. At 110 km/h most EVs use 20–30% more energy than their claimed figure. Dropping to 100 km/h on the longest gap gives you a buffer.
- Have two networks' apps ready. Most stops have more than one network, so if one charger is down you can use another.
- Towing or a full load can halve your range. Plan stops about half as far apart.
More road trips from Victoria
✓ You now know
- Every EV we track can do it, most without stopping to charge.
- Charge to 80% rather than 100%, and have a second network's app ready in case a charger is down.
More: checklist, calculators, questions and more guides
EV road trip checklist
Apps and accounts, cables, planning your charging stops with a backup, and what to do on the day. One A4 page.
Calculators for this
Common questions
Can you drive melbourne to Bendigo in an EV?
Yes. There are 5 fast-charging stops along the 152 km route, and the longest gap is 37 km. Most EVs need no charging stops.
How much does it cost to drive melbourne to Bendigo in an EV?
About $10 in charging for a typical mid-size electric SUV, using Victoria home power prices for the first battery and fast chargers after that. A petrol SUV would use about $27.00 in fuel.
What about bendigo to Melbourne?
It's the same 152 km of road the other way. Tap '⇄ Bendigo → Melbourne' at the top of the page to see the charging stops in that order, and where your car would stop.
Which charging networks are on this route?
Charging the Regions, Evie. Many stops have more than one network.
More guides
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How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at November 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.