Tag Archives: Melbourne

EV related Blog Post

Solar Panels and EVs – a Money Saving Combination

Solar-Savings 2016I had solar panels installed on my house early last year. My solar panels generated 73% of my power usage and saved me over $1000. We’re now about halfway through this year and so far I’m 84% solar. Last week I had a few more panels installed, which should bring me close to generating 100% of my power usage. The price of the solar panels should break even with the amount I save in electricity in about 7 years. 

Solar-Savings 2017-07Another benefit of this is my Tesla now runs primarily on free solar power. I don’t have to worry about gas prices anymore. Even if I didn’t have solar panels, the electricity to power my car costs a fraction of what it costs to fill up a gas tank. It would cost me less than $10 in electricity from FPL to fill up my ‘tank.’ To put another way, the cost of a single fill-up on a 20-gallon gas tank right now would pay for a month of driving on my electric car.

The Sierra Club is working to get cities around the world pledge to switch city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2035. It’s called the Ready for 100 pledge and there is a petition to get the City of Melbourne to join in. As part of the pledge, a board would be formed to formulate a plan for how to achieve the 100% goal. This would likely include a mix of installing solar panels and switching to electric vehicles. Switching to renewables would save the city money and save taxpayers money. It just makes financial sense.

There’s also a related petition to the mayors of all Brevard County cities. Cities contribute about 70% of all energy-related emissions. By getting cities to pledge to convert city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2035 and all city activities by 2050, that would make a big dent in lowering emissions that pollute our air & water.

EV News, Local EV Event

Drive Electric Week Melbourne 2014 Recap

National Drive Electric Week – Melbourne, FL 2014 was a great success!

SCEV Driver Club Members Pose for Photo

Despite poor weather conditions National Drive Electric Week Melbourne drew around 300 people from the hours of 10-3 to the event on Saturday, Sept 20th at City Hall in downtown Melbourne, FL. The event was organized by our group, the Space Coast EV Drivers with the City of Melbourne partnering with us as our location sponsor.  Event sponsors included Melbourne BMW, Schneider Electric, Brevard Solar,  SEMAConnect and FPL who were all on site with information for EV owners and future owners.  WFIT 89.5 FM was Melbourne’s local National Drive Electric Week Media sponsor. NDEW2014 Sponsors
Exhibitors included our sponsors as well as Blue Life Florida, Central Florida Clean Cities Coalition, Tesla Motors, and Space Coast Progressive Alliance.  Donations for the event were received from our sponsors as well as Tesla Motors, Electric Car Insider Magazine, Palm Bay Kayaks (prize donation), Corey’s Bagels (food donation) and 5th Avenue Starbucks in Indialantic (coffee donation).
Mayor Meehan opens National Drive Electric Week MelbourneMayor Kathy Meehan  opened the event by reading a National Drive Electric Week Proclamation alongside  members of the City Council as well as representatives from the City of Melbourne’s Sustainability program.
Over 26 different types of electric vehicles were on display at the event and owners gave a combined number of over 50 test rides or drives during our event.  Event attendees were able to drive or ride in privately  owned Nissan Leafs, Chevy Volts,  Tesla Model S vehicles and a Toyota RAV4EV while the owners of the vehicles shared their personal experience with their vehicle. Even the Mayor got in on the fun and learned more about the all electric Tesla Model S. Mayor Kathy Meehan Poses with a Tesla Model S
The attendees were able to learn about, price, availability, cost savings and more from the owners of the vehicles. Other EVs such as e-bikes, a Tesla Roadster, BMW i3s , Ford Fusion Energi plug in hybrids  and a Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid were also on display at the event. Personally owned Nissan Leafs as well as Chevy Volts dominated the event.
Josh and Brenna, founders of the SCEV Drivers group were on hand all day to give information to attendees and answer any questions.
SCEV Drivers Tent
Tesla Roadster
“The Melbourne event, organized by the Space Coast Electric Vehicle Drivers club, had high-end electric vehicles as well as economy models on display. The yellow Tesla Roadster, BMW i3 and Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid were the most popular vehicles.” – Florida Today
BMW i3 on Display
We look forward to next years event!
Be sure to check out the event coverage from Florida Today by following these links:

http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/news/local/2014/09/20/15976679/

http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/news/local/2014/09/20/15980589/

 

National Drive Electric Week

NDEW2014 City Proclamation

NDEW2014 City of Melbourne Proclamation

Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Kathy Meehan pose for a photo after the NDEW2014 City Proclamation is read
Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Kathy Meehan pose for a photo after the Melbourne National Drive Electric Week City Proclamation is read

On August 26th the Space Coast Electric Vehicle Drivers founders Josh and Brenna attended the City of Melbourne’s National Drive Electric Week City Proclamation reading during August’s City Council meeting. The Proclamation was read by Mayor Kathy Meehan . Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne, a Volt owner, and an SCEV Driver herself also spoke.

Mayor Kathy Meehan reads the City of Melbourne's National Drive Electric Week Proclamation
Mayor Kathy Meehan reads the City of Melbourne’s National Drive Electric Week Proclamation

Julie spoke about the National Drive Electric Week Melbourne Event taking place Sept 20th and invited the attendees of the Council meeting to join us on Saturday Sept. 20th for the event. She also thanked the SCEV Drivers for their hard work and drive to bring this event to Melbourne, Fl.

Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne speaks at the Council meeting
Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne speaks at the Council meeting.

Tony Patton, a leaf owner and a regular at the SCEV Driver meet ups along with Ken Sherman, a future EV driver, came to show their support.  After the proclamation was read we had time for a few more photo opps.

Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Meehan pose for another photo opp.
Ken Sherman (not pictured), Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Meehan pose for another photo opp.

We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with the City of Melbourne to bring National Drive Electric Week to Melbourne, FL this year. Thanks to all who attend the meeting in person and in spirit! We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday September 20th from 10-3 at City Hall for the first annual Melbourne, Florida National Drive Electric Week event.

 

Local EV Event

First Monthly Electric Vehicle Meetup

Men standing next to their electric vehicles
SCEV Drivers with their cars
SCEV driver members sitting in their cars
SCEV Drivers at the L3 charger

First, we would like to thank everyone who made it to the first Space Coast Electric Vehicle Drivers monthly meet up. It was a perfect day to park our cars at the level 3 charger in downtown Melbourne, Fl and walk over to Meg O’Malleys for a late lunch.

We love the idea that the cars are parked together and are easy to view so people walking by can see electric vehicles of all types in their town. It is a great way to show the town we are here, we are using the newly installed infrastructure, and we will make a point to gather in locations that add electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) such as the new CHAdeMO charging station. (Especially when they are located in truly convenient areas of town with easy access to amenities.)

So now we are sure you are asking yourself “what did I miss?” As if the opportunity to dine on some of Melbourne’s most delicious French onion soup wasn’t enough here are the details.  We spent the time discussing our cars, talking about upcoming events, discussing outreach opportunities, what we all do for work, how good the crab cake appetizer is, how we ended up in Melbourne, strange or fun experiences you have had interacting with the public in regards to your electric vehicle, how good this half a rack of ribs is, lots of talk about flying planes (commercial and private), and much, much more.

Couldn’t make it this month? No problem, there is always next month. So save the date for the first Sunday in June which happens to be June 1st at Squid Lips in Melbourne. Be sure to check the website. We look forward to seeing you at the next meet up.

 

 

Local EV Event

Our First Electric Vehicle Event in Melbourne, FL

Image
A Chevy Volt Electric Vehicle Rear of the car and licence plate that reads 101 MPG
Voltron the Volt

Hi All!

We know you have been waiting to see where our first community event would be so you can come check out Voltron the Red Chevy Volt! Our “no compromise electric vehicle.” We are happy to announce the wait is over!

This Saturday April 12th 2014 we will be at the Brevard Zoo’s Party for the Planet from 10 AM to 3 PM. Look for our tent, banner, and the red Chevy Volt to be parked directly across from the entrance to the Zoo.  We can not wait to see you there.

For more info about the Brevard Zoo’s Party for the Planet event please check out their websites Special Events Page. The Zoo is located at 8825 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940