Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI) in association with Phillip Island and San Remo Rotary, is hosting a Solar and Electric Vehicle information event on January 20 from 4pm – 7pm, as part of the Rhyll Twilight Market, at Lock Road.

This is to enable the community to experience Electric Vehicles (EV) first-hand, talk to EV owners and hear industry expert Bryce Gaton speak about how the community can transition to EVs.

Local solar businesses will have displays to answer questions about solar, batteries, inverters and the like. Community member John Lovell will share his experience navigating the technology for a home solar system.

A spokesperson for TRPI said everyone now knows about climate change.

“The majority of the world now accepts that fossil fuel emissions will destroy life as we know it, unless we increase our action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Around the world transport is a significant contributor to the high level of emissions. In the Bass Coast Shire, 30 per cent of emissions are from the transport sector. The transition to Electric Vehicles powered by renewable energy is essential to meet the Shire’s net zero 2030 Climate Action Plan.”

TRPI believes understanding the broader EV landscape can help people plan their transition to Electric Vehicles.

The information sessions will be presented by EV transition consultant and EV writer/commentator Bryce Gaton.  Bryce will provide a guide to the basic technologies, systems and charging options for EVs, give an overview of the current (and coming) Australian choices for buying new and second-hand plug-in EVs and finish by showing how to evaluate which is the right one for your needs. (Or how long it might be till one that does hits our shores).

Some of the other owners who will be at the event: Bhavani Rooks/Nissan Leaf, Steve Fury/Zero Motorcycle, Sarah Disher/Tesla Model 3; Wendy Farmer/Polestar 2; Zoe Geyer/Hyundai Kona; Cr Michael Whelan, Mayor of BCSC/Hyundai Kona.

Phillip Island and San Remo Rotary Public Relations spokesperson Judy Lawrence said Rotary was delighted to partner with TRPI and include the Solar and EV event as part of the final Rhyll Twilight Market for January.

“These are topics many people are interested in and want more information on. We look forward to seeing the EVs, talking to their owners and having the information sessions available  for those interested to know more.”

It’s anticipated there will be a high level of interest in the event and TRPI has commissioned community member Terry Melvin to video record the information sessions.

These will be available (once edited) for those unable to be accommodated in the hall, or unable to attend, after the event.

Information will be posted on the TRPI website and Facebook page.

The EV owners and their vehicles and the solar businesses will be in the area around the hall and available to speak to people from 4-7pm.

For more information contact Mary Whelan, Chair TRPI: maryfwhelan@gmail.com  or 0408 055 867.

Speakers

Bryce Gaton EV transition consultant and EV writer/commentator has been working in, writing and presenting on the EV sector since 2008. He currently writes for Australia’s premier EV news site –TheDriven.io; running the EV Transition support consultancy EV Choice and providing EV build safety training to a number of Australian university FSAE race teams.

In his spare time Bryce writes on EV topics for Renew magazine, as well as regularly presenting on EV issues and opportunities at conferences, public EV information forums and events. He is also the writer behind the EV car model fact sheets and webpage found on the AEVA (Australian Electric Vehicle Association) national website. 

In the presentation on January 20, Bryce will provide a guide to the basic technologies, systems and charging options for EVs, give an overview of the current (and coming) Australian choices for buying new and second-hand plug-in EVs and finish by showing how to evaluate which is the right one for your needs. (Or how long it might be till one that does hits our shores).

Christian Slattery – Climate Emergency Project Officer will be speaking on Bass Coast Shire Council’s plan to develop a shire-wide EV charging network.

Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI)
TRPI was formed at a public meeting in 2018 when 150 people joined together to hear about the possibilities for Phillip Island becoming self-sufficient in energy production from renewable sources, by 2030.