The Electron with the mighty Tesla

Electric vehicles converged on the Mecca of Australian motor racing, Mount Panorama in Bathurst, last week for the Central NSW Councils Electric Vehicle Challenge.

An eerie silence descended over the Mount in what would have to be the quietest “race meeting” ever held there.

The Electron was joined in circuits of the famous track by the world’s only production electric sports car, the Tesla. While the $250,000, two seat Tesla zoomed (at the public speed limit of 60kmh) around the track, the Electron carried four adults at a time easily over the testing, steep mountain and down the long straight, picking up valuable regenerative energy at the same time.

After six full circuits of the 6.5 km track, the fuel gauge still indicated over 50% charge remaining, confirming the claimed range figures for the Electron (allowing for load and hilly terrain).

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV was notably absent from the Challenge.

Simon Hackett, MD of Internode and an Electron (and Tesla) owner, puts it succinctly: “Once you drive an electric car, you realise you are in a generation-changing vehicle. And I don’t miss the generation I’m leaving.”

On the start grid