A Revolution for sustainable transport

A local entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable transport and a PhD in mechanical engineering is putting some extra rev in the Sunshine Coast’s growing Clean Technologies sector.

Coolum-based Ben Stewart has converted a Mazda 6 into a fully electric, zero-emissions car and he’s encouraging more locals to embrace the ever-improving battery technology.

“The idea of my business, Revolution Vehicles, is to convert combustion engine cars to high-performance electric cars,” Dr Stewart said.

“In addition to increasing the car’s performance, it also becomes a zero emissions vehicle.

“This one is a demonstrator to show that we can do it and make it look good and be fun to drive.”

Dr Stewart said his passion for cars and a cleaner environment were the driving forces behind his new business.

“It’s incredible that we have cars that use such a polluting fuel source that we’ve got to source from another country.

“Electric cars, when done right, have better performance and they’re emissions-free so it’s the best of both worlds – I built this car to prove that.”

More than two million highway-legal, plug-in electric passenger cars are now in circulation around the world, of which 38% were sold in 2016.

While China, Europe and the USA were by far the biggest buyers of electric vehicles, Dr Stewart said Australia had so far been slow to catch on.

“I’ve spent two years building this car and I’ve got no doubt in my mind this is the future of automobiles,” he said.

“In Norway, electric cars had nearly 30% of the market share for new car sales in 2016 so it’s happening around the world, just not here and in 10 years’ time there’ll be electric cars everywhere.”

Dr Stewart’s electric car is powered by lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries which can be charged from a standard J1772-compliant charge station or 240 Volt power socket. Once fully charged, it can travel around 150km.

“Battery technology is changing so quickly at the moment.

“There’s a lot of big companies putting big dollars into battery research and manufacturing and in a few years’ time we’re going to be getting 1000km-plus easy from a charge, which you can’t even get that from a standard car today.”

Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Stephen Robinson said Revolution Vehicles was part of the Sunshine Coast’s growing Clean Technologies sector, which is one of our region’s seven high-value industries identified in the Regional Economic Development Strategy as offering the best opportunities for future growth.

“The Clean Technologies sector now employs around 1770 people and delivers an estimated $214 million to the Sunshine Coast’s economy annually,” Cr Robinson said.

“Our region is home to an ever increasing number of clean tech companies like ENOPTE, ROCKCOTE, SPS Energy and Nano Nouvelle who are developing technologies that are in demand nationally and internationally.

“It’s fantastic to see Revolution Vehicles join this outstanding list of local clean tech companies choosing to base themselves here as we strive to be a healthy, smart and creative region that has its own identity and is intimately connected to the world.

“Just a few kilometres from the Coolum Industrial Estate where Revolution Vehicles and fellow clean tech business ENOPTE are located, construction is nearing completion on council’s 15 megawatt Sunshine Coast Solar Farm in Valdora.

“When complete, the solar farm will enable council to become Australia’s first local government to offset more than 100% of its electricity consumption across all its facilities and operations.”

Are you a Sunshine Coast-based Cleantech operator? Take the opportunity to network with representatives from export support services and other companies operating in the Cleantech space at the Business Beyond Borders CleanTech Export Workshop at Inbox Workspace on Tuesday, March 21 from 3pm to 5pm.

The two-hour workshop will include presentations from export expert Nicholas Alford, Principal at Labyrinth Maven.

For more information or to register, click here or visit the business section on council’s website.