ELu Gathers Electrical Autos, Sporting Greats, & Good Meals

Join every day information updates from CleanTechnica on electronic mail. Or observe us on Google Information!

Doug Fraser, Queensland Director of eLu , actually pulled out all of the stops when he marshalled a spread of gamers within the electrical automobile area to advertise EVs on the Titans Rugby League residence floor on the Gold Coast this week — Parkwood Village Golf Membership.

Doug is a grasp at creating group partnerships to boost electrical automobile consciousness. For my American readers, I have to clarify: Rugby League is like grid iron for actual males — the gamers don’t put on padding! Watch the annual State of Origin matches in mid-year for a style. Some exhibition video games had been lately performed in Las Vegas.

ELu is an EV charging station resolution supplier that installs and manages 22 kWh AC and ultra-fast DC charging pods that embrace battery integration. The built-in Battery Power Storage System (BESS) permits the chargers to function successfully and sustainably at areas which have restricted energy infrastructure. ELu chooses areas that give a nice charging expertise — golf programs, sports activities golf equipment, and vacationer spots. Every pod is supplied with three AC chargers and one DC ultra-fast charger geared up with two charging factors.

A completely owned Australian firm, Lumen Power Australia has two subsidiaries — ELu and Elumina. While ELu units up public charging pods, Elumina provides chargers to fleets and sellers (like Frizelle Sunshine Auto Group) which are transitioning to EVs and must cost their demonstrators and new autos upon sale. ELu is a brand new firm having solely began buying and selling slightly over a yr in the past. The Parkwood Village Titans occasion was their nationwide product launch. Whereas charging at Parkwood, clients can store, attend the medical centre, and even play a sport of golf. Don’t fear, monitoring by eLu makes certain that automobiles are moved when absolutely charged, making manner for the subsequent thirsty EV.

The chargers put in by eLu have already been put in in Europe — in Spain, Germany, and Sweden. A number of thousand machines are already in service. Though made in China, eLu has had important enter to change the design for Australia’s rugged circumstances, with additional cooling mechanisms and being sealed to maintain the critters out.

ELu has no less than 5 different tasks within the pipeline and is contemplating charging pods on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and Gladstone. Doug tells me that eLu is aiming for ten charging pods within the brief time period, even transferring into the west. There will probably be loads of public chargers for all these new EVs hitting the street. After constructing the Queensland community, it will likely be time to maneuver south. ELu is already progressing areas in New South Wales. In the meantime, eLumina is promoting the charging {hardware} to sellers and fleet managers all through Australia. This firm is transferring quick.

Once we arrived at Parkwood Village for the launch, we discovered Doug with a battery-powered air blower cleansing up the leaves across the newly set up DC quick charger. He’s very happy with the mission and beams as he tells me it is without doubt one of the first to have a bank card reader. Faucet and go. The charging pod consists of 1 dual-gun ultra-fast DC charger and three 22 kWh AC chargers. It could possibly accommodate as much as 5 autos at a time. DC charging prices 67¢/kWh, stage 2 AC charging is 47¢/kWh.

The items had been put in by Arran from Regenev. In the same strategy, Doug and Arran are putting in an eLu high-speed DC charger at Gunabul Homestead Golf Membership and Perform Centre. “We pleasure ourselves on putting in and organising DC quick charging in 3 days. This consists of concreting and website preparation,” Arran tells me.

Gunabul Homestead is located within the picturesque rolling hills of the Mary Valley on the outskirts of Gympie, simply off the Bruce Freeway (on Freeway 1, simply a few hours drive from Brisbane) and was additionally chosen for its facilities. It’s a very nice place to spend time whereas your automotive is charging. The Gunabul charging station can be distinctive in that it’s “trailer pleasant.” Ther’s loads of area to drive by means of for these towing horse floats, boats, or caravans. Being over 100 years previous, Gunabul Homestead has a restricted electrical energy system. This isn’t an issue with eLu’s built-in battery charging system. The 200-kWh battery within the charger trickle expenses from the grid and is then in a position to discharge to a ready automobile at pace. The battery acts like a buffer.

Arran can be the Queensland rep for the Tesla Homeowners Membership and so invited all members of the Queensland department to come back and study the brand new chargers, have a chat, have lunch, and meet the Titans. Retired membership legend Anthony Don (“the Don” is the membership’s most prolific strive scorer), accompanied by advertising and marketing rep Devan and the captain of the “Leagueability” group, Ethan, glad-handed the guests and signed free merchandise.

There was one thing for everybody, even a leaping fort for the children! The Gold Coast Titans Leauguability program is “the primary incapacity rugby league program in Australia to offer a contest for each women and men.”

Regenev lately made a splash on CleanTechnica after I was in a position to report their set up of an EV charger at a neighborhood Toyota dealership.

For the eLu launch, Frizelle Sunshine Auto Group introduced over two million {dollars}’ value of electrical autos to show to most of the people. At one finish of the lineup had been the Audis, then the Kias and Hyundais, and culminating within the Ford E-Transit and the Hyundai MIGHTY Electrical Truck. Frizelle is a sponsor of the Titans, as is eLu.

I grabbed “the Don” on the finish of the signing extravaganza and coerced him into taking my Tesla for a drive. He took the Mannequin 3 SR+ for a spin across the automotive park, then up the twin carriageway — the place I inspired him to be slightly naughty with the automobile. To say he was impressed could be an understatement. He discovered the acceleration unbelievable and the tech futuristic. Sadly, I couldn’t present him a lot, as he was pressed for time. He’s stored busy as a coach and a TopSport ambassador. I hope he now visits a show room and has an extended check drive in a wide range of electrical automobiles. Thanks for giving up your Sunday morning, Anthony!

It was time to get critical, and so we went again to “The Pavilion,” had a proper opening, and Doug extolled the virtues of eLu and the native charging station. Many questions had been requested and answered. I’m certain that there will probably be many extra. After which the suggestion got here — what a couple of synchronised mild present? Think about 22 Teslas doing the Arrival collectively! Fairly the spectacle. After all, the one lonely X needed to do a special tune, because it mournfully flapped its wings, rose into the air, and flew residence.

Time for lunch at The Membership Parkwood Village, after which the lengthy, sluggish drive residence up the M1 from the Gold Coast to Brisbane — 4 lanes of stop-start visitors. Thank goodness Tess could be doing many of the driving!