ELECTRIC powered homes, businesses and vehicles were the main topic at an electric vehicle fair held in a public car park at Mount Martha on Saturday 18 March.
Organised by Repower – a “not-for-profit association of volunteers” – the fair was part of the group’s ongoing bid to “decarbonise” the Mornington Peninsula by cutting carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030 (from 2018 levels).
“As a developed nation we have contributed more than our fair share of fossil fuel emissions to the world’s limited carbon budget, and so we need to do more than the average and show leadership,” Repower’s website states.
“We have the natural resources, the wealth, the governance structures, the social equity systems – we have the chance to show the world how this transition cannot only be achieved quickly but also fairly.”
The fair in the car park at the corner of Watson Road and Mirang Avenue saw several hundred people talk with experts about electric cars and bikes, solar and other renewable energy ideas for homes and businesses.
Members of Repower say they are “doing their bit” towards solving the global warming climate crisis by working together to “develop ideas to dramatically reduce carbon emissions on the peninsula”.
The electric vehicle fair was organised by Ellen Steele, David Boston and Jon Fly to raise awareness about what people can do to help decarbonise the community.
“The aim is community decarbonisation through the electrification of our community with renewable energy,” Jon Fly said.
Steele said Repower “get[s] you thinking about the steps you can take both as an individual and as a community”.
“What we wanted to do was raise awareness about electric vehicles, getting people to think about them as a viable option rather than something that is totally out of reach. When it’s time to get a new car, maybe think about getting an electric one.”
“People still have concerns about range and cost of electric cars,” Fly said. “They are surprised when they learn they can buy a new electric car for $44,000 with a range of 500kilometres.”
Steele said she had “just found out” that an ebike could be bought for $2000. “I thought they were so expensive and out of my reach. But this sounded pretty reasonable considering what they can do.”
Jeremy Dalgleish of Mornington Cycles said ebikes made it easy to ride up hills, “the biggest barriers to people riding bikes”.
“The advantage of an electric bike is the ease of getting around,” he said. “You don’t get sweaty and have to carry a change of clothes. And you don’t have to worry about parking”.
Details: repowermornpen.org.au
First published in the Mornington News – 4 April 2023
