Perhaps it is because my ancestors were Greeks, and I am proud of rational thinking and behavior. Ancient Greeks are famous for philosophy (literally translated as "loving wisdom").

For me, this means seeking truth and thinking logically.

So let me be blunt-I accept what science and scientists say, and I believe we are heading towards climate disaster.

This, coupled with my curious character and willingness to take risks, was a factor in ordering a Hyundai Kona electric car and a large (10.2 kW) solar power system to power the car and our 2-person family on the Monday after the last federal election.

This is not stupid behavior, nor is it my protest.

On the contrary, with a background in cost accounting and a high annual mileage, I am satisfied that my decision is both economically reasonable and environmentally responsible.

The cost of the solar power system (as shown in the picture above) and the upgrade from a similar gasoline version to an electric Kona is about 45,000 USD, but we should recoup the cost by saving vehicle operating costs and reducing electricity bills in about 8 years.

After that, we will lead.

I use the mortgage loan to pay the upfront expenses. We use the money we spend on gasoline, maintenance and electricity to repay every month, so it has no effect on our cash flow.

Our LG Neon 2 panel is guaranteed for 30 years (production and performance), and I know the inverter should be usable for about 10 years.

My car can usually be used for 10 years.

The real risk of all this is an expensive battery failure after Hyundai’s 8-year/160,000 km warranty expires and before we get the money back.

In my opinion, people who accept science and want to do something about it will either reduce the things that cause problems, such as driving, flying, eating red meat or using non-locally produced products, or they will explore the same as before but are more environmentally friendly. Responsible lifestyle.

I stand firmly in the latter camp because I am not a good person who misses the good things that life has to offer.

And I hope that many people who share this little stone in the void will feel the same way, and will not take the initiative to give up what they have or want.

We have owned Kona EV and the solar system for a few months, and I have formed some clear initial impressions:

Changing the maximum number that can be provided to the car involves stepping through multiple menus and selecting and changing values.

It is more cumbersome than necessary, and I recommend being able to maintain this critical function on the front screen. It would be better to be able to check and manage through the app on the phone

Australia’s electric car ownership is far below what it should be. Government policy is unhelpful at best, and it is likely to be a real obstacle.

But my high kilometer use case allows me to choose wisely to be a pioneer in this new world and hope to inspire others.

The Kona EV often flies under the radar because it looks very similar to many other small SUVs. This fact does not make it stand out, but I enjoy this role and explain its cost-effectiveness to interested people. When he pressed the accelerator firmly, he watched the smile spread from ear to ear.

Therefore, when I saw another Kona EV of the same color as ours parked in the place I planned to use in our local Woollies parking lot a few days ago, I was both frustrated and relieved.

I think this is what it means to be a pioneer. Others will join in, but part of me wants to be unique for a while.

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