The world is likely to look very different after COVID-19 and one Illawarra business is ready to help make it more environmentally sustainable.
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Last week a new energy efficient Dan Murphy's store opened at Batemans Bay showed signs of what may come in Australia with its own electric vehicle charging station.
In a first for Dan Murphy's and uses the Tritium High Power Charging (HPC) system which can charge an electric vehicle battery to 80 per cent capacity in 40 minutes.
The roof of the new Batemans Bay liquor outlet has a 53KWH 168 panel solar system and the store is expected to save 56 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Further up the Princes Hwy near Berry, Silos Estate owners Rajarshi and Sophie Ray could see what was coming more than a year ago when they installed Australia's largest electric vehicle charging station.
Silos Estate now has 16 charging units. The first were installed in 2007 but the last 12 are super chargers that can entirely recharge an electric car in 20 minutes.
Mr Ray said the business will never make a return on what it cost to install the 12 super charging outlets but that was never the motivation.
"This is a big picture thing. We have a really strong focus on sustainability and this fits in with our ethos," he said.
"Our chargers are powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. But we do have to buy some green power for the super chargers because they draw a lot of power. We have been a solar powered winery since 2007".
Mr Ray said some chargers can be plugged into the home power and take up to 24 hours to fully charge a vehicle. Then there are destination chargers. But super chargers are the quickest..
Silos started with two of the basic chargers in 2007, then installed two destination chargers in 2015 before really ramping things up in late 2018.
"We have six Tesla units with 12 outlets. When we installed them we were the largest super charging station in Australia," Mr Ray said.
"Our super chargers can only be used on Tesla cars but our other four chargers can be used by any electric vehicle.
"This is the future. With the COVID experience lots of people are commenting about how different the world looks and feels with clean canals in Venice and people being able to see the Himalayas for the first time in generations".
Mr Ray can see electric cars becoming popular in Australia.
"We already average around 300 cars a month. Many people are looking at those and saying 'my next car will be electric'," he said.
With recent advances in electric car technology Mr Ray said there are already enough super chargers between Sydney and Melbourne for people to make the trip via the South Coast.
"We are well serviced. There is also one at Narooma. The super charging network is already in place," he said.
"It is called a super charging highway. I know the Tesla Roadster which is coming out soon is supposed to have a range of 1000km on one charge. Consumers are starting to decide to go electric".
Mr Ray said the majority of electric cars using the Silos charging station are new visitors to the region. They are coming because the infrastructure is now here.
"With the introduction of the super chargers we are getting people who are actively deciding to do a tour down the South Coast," he said.
"When they get here they have a 20 minute break, stretch their legs and sample our wine with a local cheese board.
"People who purchase electric cars tend to change their driving behaviour and no longer want to push through to get to a destination.
"They are taking their time to see things along the way. Which is an interesting side benefit".
Mr Ray said people might wonder why they haven't heard about the Silos super charging station.
That is because there has never been an official opening.
There was to be one late last year but the extended fire season followed by the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on hold.
Mr Ray is presently looking at a major Hollywood celebrity to do the honours after COVID-19 restrictions lift.
Read more:
- How Silos Estate has come to the rescue for animals and people seeking shelter in catastrophic fire conditions
- Jessica Clark's Earth Worthy business helps give people hope during COVID-19
- Wine clubs great way to shop local online during coronavirus and have it delivered contact free
- Small brewers and wine producers on the South Coast offered a lifeline by Dan Murphy's and BWS
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
