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https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-06-05/electric-vehicles-side-by-side-farm-inputs-environment/101121922>
"Imagine cutting out the fuel bill for your farm vehicles, spending less on
servicing and at the same time drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
That is already the reality for some Australian farmers.
Electric side-by-sides have hit farm tracks, and some owners said they were a
viable alternative to the petrol- or diesel-powered equivalent.
Phil and Fiona Murdoch recently purchased an electric side-by-side vehicle to
use on their 490-hectare conservation property adjoining the Hattah National
Park in north-west Victoria.
It will be used to help water plants, direct seed native vegetation and take
guests bird watching.
The couple first considered getting an EV for the property a decade ago, but
the models were unsuitable and they waited for the technology to evolve.
"We trialled a vehicle nearly 10 years ago and it couldn't pull up our sand
dunes," Mrs Murdoch said.
"So when we tried this new EV we put a water cart on behind it, we put the
direct seeder on behind it, and it pulled up the sand dunes, no worries."
Mr Murdoch used to wear earmuffs when travelling on the quad bike but said
hearing protection was not needed on the quieter electric side-by-side.
"I'm quite deaf and that helps a lot with not having to compete against the
engine noise, particularly when Fiona's with me," he said.
It also enables the couple and their guests to get a closer look at some of the
animals living on the property, which would usually be scared off by noisier
vehicles.
The Murdochs have a solar system on their house and have been considering
installing a battery, which would enable them to recharge the EV overnight with
renewable energy."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
