Britz EVolve: guilt-free holidays? - Mr and Mrs T on Tour
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NZ’S NEWS SOURCE FOR ELECTRIC, INTELLIGENT AND AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION
MAY 2019 .CO.NZ
Britz EVolve: guilt-free holidays?
INSIDE
Mercedes-Benz Trackless
World Tesla tourers 6 electric 11 trams coming 19
Drive your business forward with
Call Steve Owens now on 021 947 752
NEWSTALK
Tesla tourers plan global EV
travel guide
W
orld Tesla travellers Ralf a Model 3 preview in Tesla’s Fremont fac- it easy for us to travel and there are also
Schwesinger and Nicole Wan- tory in California. They took his message more and more hotels which provide
ner have thoroughly enjoyed to heart about venturing outside your charging infrastructure to their guests.
their 45-day tour of New Zealand and are comfort zone to experience something “In New Zealand we were also very
now spending three months journeying truly special and quit their jobs (he was in positively surprised by the fantastic
around Australia. banking and she was in tourism/market- network provided by ChargeNet NZ. They
The couple, who call their global so- ing) and home to travel the world in a do a great job offering open fast charging
journ “Mr and Mrs T on Tour”, travelled Tesla for a good cause. infrastructure to all EVs, because this is
6310km in the country and also joined “The weekend getaway that never what it takes,” Schwesinger explains.
the New Zealand Tesla Supercharger ends” started in April 2018 when they left They’re funding their global Tesla tour
Rally before leaving for Australia from their rented apartment to travel around from their savings, saying people have
Queenstown on May 3. Europe in their Model S. also been generous in providing support
They used a Tesla Model X belonging Tesla heard about their drastic lifestyle – particularly through Tesla Owner Clubs.
to a Tesla Owners Club of New Zealand change and offered support, sending a “With regards to the cars in Europe, in
member during their stay. film crew to document their story and New Zealand and Australia we were also
record their first three days lucky as all cars still have free Super-
on the road to share their charger use so we don’t need to pay for
message. our energy consumption and travel for
“They liked the story that free,” Schwesinger says.
we were dropping every- They have garaged their Model S in
thing to support Tesla’s mis- Switzerland and cut down on any fixed
sion and a more sustainable costs to make things work. Shipping
lifestyle,” Schwesinger says. their car to other continents was never
Their beginnings were an option as this would have been bad
published under “customer sustainability.
stories” on all European Other than that, shipping costs and
Tesla websites and in a You- other issues like different charging
Tube video. infrastructure, insurance and more con-
“We are traveling in a Te- tributed to their decision, so they try to
sla, because we support their use local cars instead with Tesla owners
The Tesla tourers love NZ mission to accelerate the being very supportive.
world’s transition to sustain- There’s more to their journey than just
“Outside of Europe, where we used able energy,” the couple says. They also having fun, meeting like-minded people
our own Model S, using a local car is the have a very clear message: “Acting more and the thrill of Tesla travel. Their website
most sustainable option. We are very sustainable does not end with owning an rates hotels and other accommodation
grateful for the support provided by other electric car, but it is surely a good start!” they use (generally Destination Charging
owners, allowing us to complete our mis- “Our journey takes us from the heart of Partners where possible), with the even-
sion,” Schwesinger says. Switzerland around the globe, travelling tual plan to produce a world travel guide
In fact, their story began in 2015 when Europe, New Zealand, Australia, North Continued on 25
the Swiss-based pair began looking for a America and Asia – all along the Te-
new car. sla Supercharger network. We want
Wanner wanted a car that was safe, to discover and share the beauty of
clean and aesthetic while Schwesinger our planet and inspire more people
hankered for a fast and roomy sports to protect it.”
car. Schwesinger, 44, and Wanner
They found their dream car on a visit 47, have fallen in love with New
to the Geneva motor show in 2015 and Zealand, describing the people
ordered their Tesla. as extremely friendly and open,
“We did not know that this new car supportive of EVs, and the scenery
would change our lives entirely,” they say. spectacular.
It led to them hearing Tesla chief “Yes, based on the growing
designer Franz von Holzhausen speak at Supercharger network, Tesla makes Ralf Schwesinger and Nicole Wanner
6 | EVTALK MAY 2019 | www.evtalk.co.nz
REVIEWTALK NEWSTALK
Tesla tourers plan global EV travel guide
Continued from 6 Their EV travel guide will include their
for all EV users. favourite hotels and accommodation they
“Our EV travel guide will be the first of endorse, plus will have general infor-
its kind and we are close to signing a con- mation of places they visited, day trips,
tract with a globally operating publisher,” restaurants and other aspects travellers
Schwesinger says. want to know.
“We have to pay for the book to be A third section has EV charging,
published, but if you want to make the including general information and simple
world a better place by inspiring others ways to charge.
you can’t wait until someone else is “Our main message is to tell and dem-
taking the risk paying for it. We have to onstrate to people that EVs are a good
take the first step and time will show thing as they’re not completely under-
where that guides us,” says Schwes- stood by everybody,” Schwesinger says.
inger, who welcomes sponsorship and “We tell people about our own experi-
other support for it. ences. EVs are cool, fun, quiet to drive,
As soon as the contract is signed, easy to use and very practical – on top
people will be able to pre-order the guide of all of that they are much better for our
through their website with publication environment.”
planned in about November 2019. They They’ve travelled about 40,000km Charging up
also plan for a founders’ edition, offering through 16 countries, planning to visit to Switzerland. “It’s a journey with an
a nice extra feature for early support- Canada and the US after Australia, used open end and time will show where it will
ers who order via their website. To be about 8745kWh of free power, taken over bring us,” Schwesinger says.
informed once the book is available you 39,000 pictures and videos and been sup- They’re enjoying being on the road
can sign-up to their newsletter via https:// ported by 22 Tesla Owners Clubs. and contributing by living a life they previ-
mrandmrstontour.com/newsletter/ Both are aware of other EV travellers ously thought impossible.
One of the reasons the couple wanted such as Italian Tesla traveller Pierpaolo Any advice for others? “If you’ve
to travel was to check out EV-friendly ac- Zampini, who they knew through the never tried an EV, try one now. You will
commodation world-wide themselves. Tesla Owners Club Italy (he’s vice-presi- be amazed,” Schwesinger says.
“We are looking for places where dent) and Dutchman Wiebe Wakker, both “We’re one EV community and we all
you can charge your car as well as your who’ve just completed journeys around share the same mission. The more who
own batteries. We provide our hon- Australia. join the better for our planet. Everybody
est opinion and if the accommodation “Every effort, big or small, that’s being can do something and as I said, driving
doesn’t meet our expectations then it’s done to support the movement is great,” an electric car is surely a good start.”
not mentioned,” Schwesinger says. He Schwesinger says. Visit www.mrandmrstontour.com for
says that’s illustrated by the fact that of While Zampini often returns to Milan more information and www.patreon.com/
145 hotels they’ve stayed at, about 90 after most of his trips, “Mr and Mrs T” are MrandMrsTonTour to support them.
feature on their website. unsure when they’ll eventually get back
EVtalk checks out AT Local
Continued from 23 But 95% of customers have given the “Customers are no longer having
needs to reach about 200 trips daily over service a five-star rating, and patronage to drive around the local neighbour-
the course of the year to receive 22% of is increasing with more expected to use hood looking for a car park; they can
its cost. On the busiest day, the service it in winter. get dropped off at the ferry terminal
reached 163 rides, it reported in early “Overall, AT is very pleased with AT in an environmentally friendly electric
April. Local’s progress to date as both customer vehicle,” Paton says.
AT Local has a target of 1200 to 1400 numbers and ridership have continued to The trial zone is limited to the
passengers weekly, and its best week increase week-on-week,” Paton says. Devonport area, with no plans to extend
saw the numbers reach 759 rides, just Paton adds the trial has customer beyond that.
over half of its target, Stuff says. feedback saying they are no longer Overall, EVtalk gives the service the
Takapuna-Devonport Local Board drive to or from the ferry terminals, thumbs up as it’s quick, convenient and
member Mike Sheehy told Stuff the trial having swapped their car journey for AT helps more people to experience an
is a failure as a result. Local. EV.
EVTALK MAY 2019 | www.evtalk.co.nz | 25You can also read
