Taste of Tasmania by Tesla Model S85: 10 days energized with renewable energy

What we have achieved with this trip stands in stark contrast with the experience of a motoring journalist back in June who “Electric car tour of Tasmania unplugged for want of power”. He went to Tasmania seemingly unprepared and not aware that there are third party EVSE charge controllers available that allow you to minimize the charging time using available 3 phase 5-pin sockets with currents up to 32 Amp.
Tasmania is ideally suited to electric cars and EV tourism as under normal climatic conditions the majority of its energy needs are generated as renewable hydro- and wind energy.
Tasmania just experienced the driest spring ever recorded and exceptionally has imported electric power from Victoria through the Basslink cable which regrettably became faulty just before the main holiday period. The event triggered the Tassie Government to instruct Hydro Tasmania to suspend the proposed sale of the Tamar Valley Power Station as a result: “Tasmania forced to be self-reliant on power after Basslink cable outage”
Notwithstanding the exceptional draught, the wind kept blowing and Tasmania’s West coast has a tremendous potential for wind energy projects. Just one wind farm such as the Musselroe Wind Farm with a generating capacity of 168 MW would be capable of powering +/- 20,000 BEV, or the equivalent of 6% from the current number of registered passenger vehicles in Tasmania.
As for small scale solar PV installations, the Clean Energy Regulator “Postcode data for small-scale installations” from Dec 2015 reveal a total installed capacity of close to 90MW but as claimed by the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance Inc. expansion recently decreased due to changes in Government policy.
Consequently, I hope that my story may reach, inspire and motivate some Tasmanian political and business community visionaries to analyse the benefits of EV tourism and promote EV transport…
In this context it’s absolutely worthwhile to read the recent article by Jack & Paul Gilding in the Mercury: Talking Point: Billion dollar opportunity to go renewable.
Sure, I am aware there are some brilliant minds and visionaries in the State Government that can see the multiple benefits of promoting EV transport and EV tourism in Tasmania: Tasmania looks to EVs as next step to 100% renewable energy.
Coincidently, a few days ago I was pleasantly surprised to read that the Tasmanian Labor is expanding its commitment to making Tasmania a national leader in electric transport technology!
No, I’m not in politics, just a retired engineer seeking sustainable living and touring with my beloved Tesla to new horizons, simultaneously promoting electric cars and renewable energy!
Australia has its own unique challenges for charging electric vehicles, especially due to the huge distances between the more densely populated State capitals. Also Tesla has to find a way to overcome this challenge.
Early 2015 it was reported that Tesla would install 16 superchargers between Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and up to the Sunshine Coast. Apparently, a recent article shows some alterations where made to the plan and Tesla now commited to link Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane with 11 superchargers by the end of 2016.
Besides this SC network, Tesla also helps making destination chargers available at a number of accommodation places, mostly intended for customers staying overnight.
There are also non-Tesla DC fast charging networks already in place such as The RAC Electric Highway® in WA and ongoing projects such as an electric super highway between Gold Coast and Port Douglas, an the initiative from the QLD Government, and according a post in the Australian Leaf Drivers Forum dated January 4, ActewAGL has also started to install some DC chargers in Canberra.
As I have shown in my previous trip reports, in Australia you can find numerous 3 phase power sockets capable of supporting semi-fast charging an EV, scattered all over the place. Tesla Motors Australia, for example, could take advantage of this situation by enabling its owners to access this infrastructure with a 3- phase adapter for their existing mobile charging units, or better by prioritizing the roll out of 3 phase 32A capable chargers capable of charging at a rate of up to 120 kph in the case the Model S is equipped with dual chargers..
The latter could be:

• installed as a fixed wired charger, as “destination charger” at places with food and/or lodging facilities
• installed as a fixed wired “transit charger” at places without food/lodging but allowing for easy parkingand a bit of a rest before continuing a trip.
• or be supplied to Tesla owners as “mobile transit charger” provided with 20 and 32A appropriate dongles/adapters for 3 phase,

Logically, I would expect that putting this as a priority can only result into increased satisfaction of existing customers and eliminate any range anxiety that a potential customer may have. These also much cheaper than a Super Charger, so could be rolled out much quicker, eventually as a temporary solution.
I have no insight in Teslas marketing strategy for the Model 3 in Australia, perhaps they haven’t worked that out themselves, but really, expecting the Model 3 to have a high volume sales potential, what happens if the Supercharger network isn’t rolled out prior to its local release. The reality maybe that most potential customers don’t understand that they will charge most of the time at home but they may be put off a purchase in the absence of a more ambitious supercharger network.
Luckily, before buying my own car I timely learned how these mostly European made 3 phase 32A capable EVSEs Charge Controllers could be of help to travel beyond the Tesla SC reach into regional Australia. The availability of these 3rd party “semi-fast- transit charger solutions” distinctly helped me making the decision to purchase this magnificent car.
My suggestion to Tesla for this case is “Think Global, Act Local”! The Tesla Model S is already a fantastic car for great road trips and has a great appeal for ecotourism in Australia. Consider that for regional driving in Australia supplying a versatile EVSE charging solution would complement the intended SC infrastructure in an economically justified manner.
Imagine, if Tesla sales staff could sell every car in Australia including dual chargers and add a versatile powerful 32A EVSE Charge Controller as a solution for regional driving eliminating range anxiety and drastically improving the scope for using the car….wouldn’t you expect sales to increase?
Further in the future, also the Model 3 marketing and sales may benefit from the regional availability of such “transit charger” network.
Last but not least I believe that availability of some 3 phase transit chargers along the main roads may make us Tesla drivers less dependent on city located SC with nearby shopping and dining facilities as these are sometimes congested due to competition for parking spots with ICE cars: