100% Electric Vehicle Project
Accelerating To A Clean Energy Future!
The Project
Our Electric Vehicle project featured two parts: a bulk buy in 2021, and an educational and awareness component throughout 2022.
In the second half of 2021, Geelong Sustainability partnered with Good Car Co to arrange a bulk-buy of electric Nissan Leafs. Our goal was to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in the Geelong region by 50%, and encourage the conversation and consideration of electric vehicles by the wider community.
Then, throughout 2022, we delivered educational and practical activities such as an EV driving experience with access to EV owners to educate and empower people to live more sustainably. Community engagement activities included EV test drives, community markets, school presentations and running ABCs of EVs seminars in collaboration with local libraries.
The major event for this project was the EV Show & Shine event which was part of the Circular Living Show. This event gave the opportunity for people to talk to experienced EV owners about their driving experience and answer questions about range anxiety, charging options and more.
The event featured a variety of electric vehicle makes and models and allowed people to book a test drive in the EV and take a test ride of an Electric Bike. You can check out a video from the show here.
We aimed to create community impact across a wide geographical area highlighting the environmental, health and cost benefits of owning a 100% electric vehicle. This component of the project was kindly funded by the City of Greater Geelong.
The Results
Throughout the community engagement project in 2022, we were able to deliver three events for the region, which together resulted in an enormous 800 attendees. We conducted a total of 67 EV test drives, as well as educating 200 staff and students at Sacred Heart College over a two-day program. The Show’n’Shine event as part of the Circular Living Show, was a huge success, with many hundreds of attendees.
We leased an MG electric car for the duration of the project, which served as both a vessel for test drives as well as a medium for Geelong Sustainability and EV advertising. Over the five months we had this car on lease, we travelled 7048 km, which cost a total of $130 for charging.
Why electric?
Fast Facts:
Thinking of buying an electric car?
“Most people are very enthusiastic after their test drives and I think it's a great way to introduce people to EVs… Having us as locals and not salespeople lets us be open and honest without an agenda - people have appreciated that. I had someone ask me what I didn't like about the car - it was a good question and it was good to be able to speak freely about how I found the car.” - Test driver
This project is supported by the City of Greater Geelong through its 'Environment Sustainability Grant Program.
