<
https://switchedon.reneweconomy.com.au/content/from-running-the-worlds-first-electric-cherry-orchard-to-helping-electrify-new-zealand>
"Mike Casey likes to call himself an “electric cherry orchardist from New
Zealand.” As far as he knows, he’s the first electric cherry farmer in the
world, having swapped over all 21 of his farm machines for electric versions,
which he powers from his own solar and battery setup.
That includes two 30kW frost fighting fans imported from South Africa, an
electric tractor imported from California, and an electric forklift. He has
also traded in the orchard's diesel ute and the family's Rav4 for two electric
konas. When they couldn't buy the electrical equipment they needed they made
it. A golf cart was turned into an orchard utility, then an electric weed
sprayer and paint sprayer added.
“I spent four years sourcing technology from all around the world, and spent
about $600,000 more on the total setup of my farm compared to what I would have
done if I'd used incumbent diesel technology,” Mike Casey told the
SwitchedOn
podcast.
But despite the initial upfront cost, and even though the cost of all the
machinery and technology he bought in 2019-2020 has since plummeted, the
electric machines have enabled him to save between $50 to $60,000 a year on his
energy costs, and the payback will be just 8-9 years."
Cheers,
*** 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
