Eric goes Electric

In our hearts and souls (those who have them) we know that fossil fuels will run out.  Sooner than later. Being sustainable was going to work back in the 70’s and 80’s. Transition to zero carbon was gaining ground in the 90’s and early 2000’s (thanks boys for the carbon wars).  Now only transformation will work.

Behavioural change is at the core of the human predicament.  It’s taken us a couple of hundred years to get 7 billion people reliant on carbon energy.  Now we have 25 years to learn how to transform and go electric with renewable energy. Saul Griffith knows we have the technology.  We just need to change. And it’s immensely hard for some.  While others with the resources, won’t.  We can change without them.

Now I’ve been a bit distracted of late.  Working a couple of jobs that take me out of town each day.  A home garden that’s needy and a broken big toe.  Yep I’m talking smashed by a 3 kilo chopping board.

This toe episode resulted in my community garden plot filling with volunteer plants  Mustard greens, spinach, silver beet, kale and fennel.  I’m calling it a green manure crop.  But really, it’s neglected growth.  One day I’ll get in there and tidy it up.

All this has been a blessing.  For fifteen years I’ve been keen to get an electric car.  First a Prius, then a Leaf, then a Tesla.  How does one transition from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV), and gas in the home to full electric?  And bring your household and community on the journey with you?

I did it five weeks ago when I drove a new red Hyundai Kona EV extended range off the showroom floor.  It’s been a big five weeks. 5,300 km of highway and country road driving in freezing wet and windy conditions.  I’ve learnt to use the basic 3 pin portable charger the car came with to charge over night, I've signed up to a couple of charging station apps, call for help when the charging station just wouldn’t charge -on my very first go, manually unlock the plug when all electronic attempts failed, and installed a fast charger at home.

I’ve learnt to calculate the cost of a charge, the time it will take based on the charger type.  I’ve read the Kona’s hard copy manual. Searched the online manual for information and dug into the infotainment settings and learnt to use Apple CarPlay and Siri voice commands - driving an 11 year old Hilux is catching up with me.

I’ve gone from the Hilux with basic cruise control to a vehicle control system that will keep my Kona cruising on the road in most conditions.

I know the difference between lane assist and lane guidance.  Preempt the cruise control without looking at the screen.

I can use iPedal for the hour trip to work without touching the brake.

I have learnt that tires have different ratings, mine are a H96 and each are rated to 710 kg and 210 km/hour so will handle the 2.2 tons of battery and car.

I know how coefficient of resistance and coefficient of drag are used to calculate vehicles drag.  And why tucking in behind another car on the highway like a peloton rider will increase my range. And a bus will suck you along, but get too close and you risk a stone through the windscreen.

That I now think about efficiency in terms of km/kwh and not litres per 100km or even mileage.   How the Kona’s range was calculated using the WLPT and why it dropped when I started driving the car -that’s a blog in itself.

That I'm actually concerned about my car’s efficiency and actively do things to make a difference. Like recycling the air instead of heating new cool air, streaming behind other cars, driving at my cars speed limit signs.

And I’m still riding my electric bike to do my shopping and visit my community garden plot on the weekends because I still need to remain active and human in the face of technological change.  Because becoming a cyborg will surely curb the joys of growing, preparing and cooking my own food.