But where do electric car owners go to top up their "tanks"?

Since last week, the answer is Rouse Hill Town Centre.

The centre is the first shopping complex in Australia to introduce networked commercial charging stations for electric vehicles.

Electric car drivers can charge their batteries for free while they shop using a card available from the station operator, ChargePoint.

Drivers are notified via SMS or email when their vehicles are fully charged. An iPhone application is also available. Australian Electric Car Club state secretary Mark Taylor welcomed the station.

"We've got a lot of members out here, and it's being used quite a bit already," he said. "This is going to be the way of the future."

The centre's general manager Martin Ollis said offering free electric car charging to enable shoppers to drive to the centre with minimal environmental impact was in keeping with its eco-friendly charter.

"Being the first retail centre to introduce networked electric car stations is just one of this centre's many environmental accomplishments," he said.

"Rouse Hill Town Centre has been recognised both within Australia and internationally for its ground breaking sustainable design and operation practices, most recently as one of the five best developments in the world at the Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence."