I do.
TL;DR version: Choose renewable energy to "fuel" your Tesla. I chose Powershop who have a special deal for EV drivers: Electric Vehicles Special Offer - Powershop, a better power company
---
I know I've raised this before - but now that the Model S has well and truly launched in Australia, it's time to bring it up again.
We all buy the car for different reasons - power, looks, prestige, tech or environment, it doesn't matter - that's up to you.
What else is up to you? How environmentally friendly the Model S is.
In the short/medium term, the dominating pure EV on the road will be the Tesla Model S or X. That means a lot of eyes will be turning towards us, as early adopters, to gauge the environmental impact EVs have in Australia.
You've heard the criticisms: oh well you're just running on coal so that's bad. Most recently, an article has come out saying that Teslas in Victoria are ABOVE the national average in terms of emissions: Teslas in Victoria arent greener than diesels
If these criticisms continue unchallenged, and most importantly if we make decisions that substantiate such criticisms, we will delay the mass adoption of EVs in Australia, and provide ammo to entrenched fossil fuel and automotive interests.
I know many of you have solar, and many of you also source your electricity from renewable sources - and I think that's awesome.
I, unfortunately, cannot get solar, so the only thing I can do is to ensure that, as much as possible, the money I spend on electricity goes to companies that are dedicated to renewable energy.
There are a few around, but one has recently come out with a special deal just for EV drivers: Powershop. I'm sure you've seen the offer around, but I'm putting it here just in case you haven't.
Powershop are offering a free upgrade to 100% GreenPower for all EV drivers for the first year. Link here: Electric Vehicles Special Offer - Powershop, a better power company
I have no commercial affiliation with Powershop, but I am a Powershop customer. I know many on this forum already are as well.
Not only do all profits go back into renewable energy projects (mostly windfarms), but using Powershop doesn't actually cost me more, it costs me less. They don't have a separate connection fee, and your consumption charge goes down with higher electricity use. So because we use more electricity than the normal household, our average consumption charge is low, even without off-peak rates.
EVs will be a major driver of electricity demand going forward - it is in fact one of the saving graces of the large scale utility. Pushing for renewable energy as the only electricity source we use, means more renewable energy investment in the long term, helping to clean up our grid.
EVs are the only form of automotive transport that get cleaner as we move towards a renewable energy future. Fossil fuels will always be fossil fuels.
By driving EVs, we have the power to bring the renewable energy future closer, sooner. If there is no economic detriment, I think we have a responsibility to do just that.
/rant
TL;DR version: Choose renewable energy to "fuel" your Tesla. I chose Powershop who have a special deal for EV drivers: Electric Vehicles Special Offer - Powershop, a better power company
---
I know I've raised this before - but now that the Model S has well and truly launched in Australia, it's time to bring it up again.
We all buy the car for different reasons - power, looks, prestige, tech or environment, it doesn't matter - that's up to you.
What else is up to you? How environmentally friendly the Model S is.
In the short/medium term, the dominating pure EV on the road will be the Tesla Model S or X. That means a lot of eyes will be turning towards us, as early adopters, to gauge the environmental impact EVs have in Australia.
You've heard the criticisms: oh well you're just running on coal so that's bad. Most recently, an article has come out saying that Teslas in Victoria are ABOVE the national average in terms of emissions: Teslas in Victoria arent greener than diesels
If these criticisms continue unchallenged, and most importantly if we make decisions that substantiate such criticisms, we will delay the mass adoption of EVs in Australia, and provide ammo to entrenched fossil fuel and automotive interests.
I know many of you have solar, and many of you also source your electricity from renewable sources - and I think that's awesome.
I, unfortunately, cannot get solar, so the only thing I can do is to ensure that, as much as possible, the money I spend on electricity goes to companies that are dedicated to renewable energy.
There are a few around, but one has recently come out with a special deal just for EV drivers: Powershop. I'm sure you've seen the offer around, but I'm putting it here just in case you haven't.
Powershop are offering a free upgrade to 100% GreenPower for all EV drivers for the first year. Link here: Electric Vehicles Special Offer - Powershop, a better power company
I have no commercial affiliation with Powershop, but I am a Powershop customer. I know many on this forum already are as well.
Not only do all profits go back into renewable energy projects (mostly windfarms), but using Powershop doesn't actually cost me more, it costs me less. They don't have a separate connection fee, and your consumption charge goes down with higher electricity use. So because we use more electricity than the normal household, our average consumption charge is low, even without off-peak rates.
EVs will be a major driver of electricity demand going forward - it is in fact one of the saving graces of the large scale utility. Pushing for renewable energy as the only electricity source we use, means more renewable energy investment in the long term, helping to clean up our grid.
EVs are the only form of automotive transport that get cleaner as we move towards a renewable energy future. Fossil fuels will always be fossil fuels.
By driving EVs, we have the power to bring the renewable energy future closer, sooner. If there is no economic detriment, I think we have a responsibility to do just that.
/rant