“We ruined the weekend!” Electric car owners share their stories about EV road trips
It’s been a lot more than two yrs because “ruining the weekend” entered the Australian vernacular, at the very least as it refers to electric powered cars and trucks.
As a little reminder, it goes anything like this: forward of the 2019 election, Labor dared to promise to assist a changeover to thoroughly clean transport by means of a 50{e3fa8c93bbc40c5a69d9feca38dfe7b99f2900dad9038a568cd0f4101441c3f9} EV product sales target if elected.
The Coalition – led by prime minister Scott Morrison, along with ministers Angus Taylor and Michaelia Cash – quickly launched an attack on this daring ambition accusing Labor, and electric powered automobiles, of threatening to damage the weekend, and take utes away from tradespeople, and so on.
In basic Australian sort, electrical automobile lovers took up the problem. And as we close to the finish of 2021, and enter the future election calendar year, it is encouraging to see that the mission has not died off to verify just how misleading this campaign was.
If something, it is gaining legs.
A Facebook group begun in early 2021 dubbed “I ruined the weekend” now has 547 users, quite a few of whom have proven all over again and yet again that it is possible to get away for the weekend in an electric automobile and (opposite to the group’s title) not have it ruined. Some others have even towed factors with their electrical vehicles, from trailers to caravans.
Katrin Swindell took a near-1,000km journey along the WA shoreline in her Tesla Model 3.
“Another weekend ruined, driving a complete of 980km for a night time in Bremer Bay which was overcast but beautiful,” she explained.
She went on: “2 charging stops each way at the Williams Tesla rapid charger and the Katanning website visitors centre charger which gave us time for brunch/lunch and then a pot of tea/coffee and a probability to stretch our legs.
“I can confirm that the battery has superior selection than my bladder 
Tim and Meredith Budge with Peter and Jill Allan, took an approximated 270km journey a person weekend in a Hyundai Ioniq with electrical drivetrain.
“Collective ruining. Visited Kilmore, Large Camp, Lancefield, Kyneton (for lunch and re-charge), Taradale then again to Melbourne. Checking respective bush blocks and making the most of nation roads and fossil-free electrical travel,” wrote the Budges.
Sam Blight took a casual travel and ruined a total afternoon in his Kona Electric powered: “Afternoon damage out to Yennyenning Lakes which are complete this 12 months just after great rain.” You can truly feel the serenity.
Ant Day, who started off the group, took a 1,500km excursion to Esperance, ruining a three-working day weekend with a take a look at to Edge of the Bay pageant and along the way was horrified by some beautiful wildflowers, then going to some pretty nice beach locations.
“On the way to the Edge of the Bay competition in Esperance. People impressive flowers in this extremely biodiverse area ruined my extensive weekend extra than the EV did!” he said.
“Esperance spoil day 2. Difficult to describe how gorgeous the seashores are in Esperance. Breathtaking. Apologies for the see, with an EV which drove flawlessly to get listed here, irrespective of it being the weekend.”
Christopher Lees took a four-hour vacation out to Nhill and even managed to come across a Tesla Supercharger at which to top rated up driving vary along the way: “Drove from Melbourne to Nhill yesterday. Sunny and no rain. Ruined the working day!” he said.
Shane Parker explained he was “Sad to report that the Tesla fully wrecked the Bridgetown Blues Pageant for me this 12 months.”
Parker also joined the “You can not tow something with an EV” club, as revealed beneath. “Weekend wholly stuffed. Apparently,” he mentioned.
Jay Smith didn’t ruin the weekend – he went in advance and ruined a total 7 days, giving the new Victorian “Charging the Regions” community a fantastic go.
“Why spoil the weekend when you can damage a total week?! Good to take a look at out some of the new community EV quickly chargers between Mildura and Melbourne final week 
And the record goes on. With the holiday year on us, there are no question now loads of prospects to damage a whole summer crack! And with an additional election upon us in early 2022, and a new goal from Labor in the offing, there was hardly ever a far better time than now to show that electrical autos do completely nicely as transportation alternatives both of those throughout the 7 days and the weekend.
If you want to be part of the Fb group you can obtain it below, and you can read through much more road trips on The Pushed right here. We welcome stories about your individual road visits, which you can send to [email protected].
Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister web-site of Renew Economic system. She has been composing about electric motor vehicles given that 2018, and has a eager fascination in the job that zero-emissions transportation has to enjoy in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts this kind of as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric powered Car Discussion board. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model 3 and has it available for seek the services of on evee.com.au.