During the month of June, Majella and I have attended regional shows in Queensland, driving thousands of km and talking to hundreds of people about electric cars. These are down to earth country folk and we have had great conversations. It makes me feel that the regions are ready, they just need supply of the right vehicles.
Last Sunday in Gympie , we exhibited our 5-year-old Tesla Model 3 and answered the usual questions around cost, charging time, and range. One advantage in driving an “antique” Tesla is that we can discuss everything that went wrong . It’s also good that none of these issues were due to the battery or drivetrain — inspiring confidence in the technology. We have driven about 140,000 km. Thanks to Murray Keys and his team for organising, who brought with her an affectionate 16-year-old woma python.
The Queensland government had a presence with the Hyundai hydrogen car and a Subaru Solterra. The government representative presented at the speaker’s corner highlighting some of the issues facing EV takeup in the regions — mainly around charging infrastructure and the lack of honest information. One heckler shouted that the government should do more in the battle against misinformation about EVs.
“If we keep it three years … we’ll have paid for the cost in fuel savings alone.” In the past 18 months he has driven the EV 70,000 km. “If I’d done that same 70,000 kilometres in our old LandCruiser that would have been about an extra $35,000 just in diesel,” Mr Mayne said. David lives off grid and charges his car through solar power.
“If I take into the cost of the solar system and what I expect it to produce over its lifetime, it’s about 70 cents to charge this car completely empty to full on the solar system we’ve got here.” Travelling to Brisbane, David has to take a longer route than in his diesel ute because there is as yet noSpeaking of charging, it was time to go to the Superchargers and fill up for the trip home. Tesla has a 4-bay Supercharger station in Gympie.