'He DIY cut an e-mobility scooter in half, lengthened it, and now trundles down their vineyard rows, changing a horrible task to one of the most pleasant ones'
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/72941304/Loving-their-clean-green-solar-machines Loving their clean, green solar machines ASHLEIGH MONK October 13 2015 [images / DEREK FLYNN http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/7/g/a/u/c/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.17fdvc.png/1444711440520.jpg Pete Wilkinson uses his Leaf electric car to drive around Marlborough http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/7/g/a/u/j/image.related.StuffPortrait.238x286.17fdvc.png/1444711440520.jpg Pete Wilkinson uses a reworked, electric mobility scooter to do bud rubbing on his vineyard property ] A Marlborough [NZ] couple are making the most of the region's sunshine hours by living a solar-powered lifestyle. Pete and Penny Wilkinson have nine solar panels set up in their garden to power their house, cars, scooters and tools. They say the change to solar, which they started in February, is the best decision they ever made. The Wilkinsons are working towards reducing the environmental footprint of their vineyard, Mackerel Sky, and the solar panels are just the start. "We've got 23,000 vines in our vineyard, that's 42 kilometres of rows," he said. "When we do bud rubbing we have to bend over 23,000 times. So I got an old 1980s mobility scooter, cut it in half, lengthened it, attached an electric battery and now I trundle down the rows and what was once a horrible job is now one of the most pleasant jobs." Alongside the electric scooter, Pete had built two electric bikes and a 48 volt electric golf cart to complete jobs around the vineyard. "We used to have quad [ice] bikes but they were noisy and smelly and needed so much maintenance. My little [e-golf] cart makes it so much more pleasant." The couple also had a range of electric tools including a chainsaw, hedge trimmer, log splitter and a drill. "Anyone who tells me that using solar power and electric-powered vehicles and tools isn't practical or isn't affordable or isn't doable, I say there's more intelligent ways to do things," he said. After work around the vineyard was done, the couple took their fully-charged Nissan Leaf electric car for a spin. "To drive all around Marlborough for free is amazing," he said. "It only takes a few hours to charge normally. You can do a quick charge and it only takes half an hour. "After 40 years of commercial driving I was over it, but the Leaf makes driving much more pleasant." Penny said they waved at petrol stations as they drove past. Each electric vehicle and tool was charged using solar power from the panels, Pete said. The couple were not completely off the grid and kept an electricity box as a back up, but they had stored solar power in the event of a power cut. "Even if the grid goes down, we have a basic level of power with LED light and we can run our washing machine and fridge and things like that." Pete set up the solar panels in the back yard himself and he and Penny tried to only use solar power whenever possible. "For me, to reduce the worst aspects of our very privileged western-style, unsustainable lifestyle here in New Zealand, fossil fuel is one of the biggies. "If we can get rid of a chunk of fossil fuel out of our personal life, I'm much happier, morally and ethically. "Plus, we get the added bonus of a reduced power bill." The motivation behind wanting to create a fully sustainable solar lifestyle was the looming threat of climate change, Pete said. "The trouble with New Zealand is that we live close to the biggest air-conditioner on the planet, Antarctica. "We're surrounded by the coolest ocean on the planet. We're cooled by the prevailing southern stream, so the influx here is relatively slow and people won't be confronted with the issue unless something hits close to home. "I want to be able to look my grandchildren in the eye and say, 'I did my best'." The development of environmentally-friendly alternatives was slow in New Zealand, so the only way to kick-start change was to raise awareness, Penny said. "In Marlborough, the council needs to be aware of what's going on," she said. "They need to set an example. Even putting a solar panel in town with a power point attached would be something." Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens said a handful of vineyards in the region were beginning to use more eco-friendly methods of operating. "The pricings are definitely coming down," he said. "We are drenched in sunlight here, and it makes a difference for climate change." Pete and Penny hosted a gathering at their house on Sunday for the Climate Karanga Marlborough group to discuss awareness. Climate Karanga Marlborough was a group of about 20 people dedicating their time to raising awareness of climate change in the district. Green Party MP Steffan Browning attended the gathering and said the solar panels were a positive step towards a sustainable future. "Why doesn't every house have a solar panel on it?" he said. "People just go for the short-term, convenient solutions, but we can all do something to make a difference. "It's hard to get change when you don't have the population with you, but we have to hold on to hope that things will change." Pete and Penny will be attending a climate change march next month in Blenheim's Seymour Square. [© stuff.co.nz] ... http://www.acourtviticulture.co.uk/ A'Court Viticulture - practical viticultural ... bud rubbing by hand and is efficient at removing secondary buds ... ... http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/quads-atvs Quad ice bikes ... https://www.facebook.com/climatekaranga Climate Karanga Marlborough http://karangapledge.org.nz/ For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Loving-their-clean-green-solar-charged-Electric-machines-tp4678154.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
