Noosa Council is testing what could turn out to be the start of a quiet, electric revolution on our local roads.
As part of the council car pool, they’re getting behind the wheel of a Nissan LEAF which uses only electricity, and is recharged from the solar system on top of the council’s Tewantin chamber. The all-electric car took about 20 years to develop and is on a six-week council trial. While it’s limited to between 130km and 150km without a recharge, that fits the size of Noosa Shire just fine. While electricity could be powering more of the council fleet in the future, the possibilities for cleaner, innovative transport in Noosa could go much further than that. Mayor Noel Playford has long been interested in the idea of smart Noosa buses, designed to be open and accessible for our climate and lifestyle and – hopefully – electric as well. The mayor said specially-designed Noosa buses could be a big drawcard for locals and tourists, encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and showing what can be achieved with a blend of innovation and environmental awareness. The Nissan LEAF is already turning heads, with Council staff impressed by its performance and statistics. Not only is it running completely free of emissions and charged with 100 per cent green power, the car itself is mostly recyclable. Even the seats are made from recycled plastic soft drink bottles.
