Remember that film, Who Killed the Electric Car?
We're not sure who did the killing, but someone has resurrected it. Many people would credit Tesla's Elon Musk with that.
Jaguar is in the game too, as can be seen from this photo. It shows Newcastle deputy lord mayor Declan Clausen with British Deputy Consul-General Jonathan Cook and a Jaguar I-Pace.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is right behind the resurrection of the electric car. Boris plans to ban sales of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030.
Looks like he dispatched his consul to Newcastle to spread the word. Declan did say they discussed climate policy.
"After the meeting, he took me for a brief ride in his 100 per cent electric Jaguar. A very nice, quiet, zero emissions car," Declan said.
Jonathan tweeted: "Today I managed to get from Sydney to Newcastle using only half a charge in the @JaguarAUS. GREAT branded #IPACE. Australia is a big country but electric vehicle technology is so good now that they have the range to cope."
Hmm, nice ad for Jaguar, that. Wonder if Boris has done a deal with Jaguar? Elon Musk won't be pleased.
Droll jokes aside, Declan said he's a big fan of e-vehicles.
"My partner and I own a plug-in hybrid electric Outlander, which we charge at home each night," he said.
Having tracked the mileage and fuel consumption, Declan says he's spent an average of $8 a week in fuel for the back-up petrol motor, achieving a fuel consumption of 2.3 litres per 100 kilometres.
"We have green energy at home and charge the car during the off-peak period. Even with the cost of electricity, the car is far cheaper to run than a standard petrol engine."
He says the city council is backing electric cars, with EV [electric vehicle] charging points at Wharf Road, Number 2 sports ground, Wallsend CBD, the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus and Jesmond shopping centre.
"We are also exploring how to use more EVs in our own fleet. We have started to transition our current passenger cars to electric, but are also looking at changing some of our bigger vehicles too - like garbage trucks.
"In my view, we should be doing more to encourage the uptake of EVs. Governments, councils and big business play an important role in this transition, as our new fleet cars will eventually join the secondary market.
"The world is moving towards electrifying travel."
But what about the Supercars? Wonder if they'll go electric?
"Supercars already use biofuels in their vehicles, but I've raised the prospect of an electric Supercars event with the organisers. It would be a great addition," Declan said.
If Supercars go electric, surely then the resurrection will be complete.
By The Dozen
At 12pm on the 12th day of the 12th month in 1969, a group of surfers linked to Nine Mile Boardriders Club vowed to meet in the same place at the same time the following year.
True to their word, they held a party on December 12, 1970, at Mawson Hotel.
As the Heraldhas recently reported, the event became known as Dozen Day. It became quite a big event. It's 50 years later, but the spirit of Dozen Day lives on.
Founding member Kenny Hicks, of Blacksmiths, said a Dozen Day meeting would be held at 12pm at the Orana Hotel on Saturday, which is, of course, December 12.
IN THE NEWS:
