The Journey to Electrical Journey: An Interview with Jake Whitehead
Not too long ago, I had the possibility to attach with Jake Whitehead, an Adjunct Professor on the College of Sydney, CEO of ODIN, and chief scientist on the Electrical Car Council, in the course of the Photo voltaic Residents Election occasion. As a proud proprietor of a Ford F-150 Lightning, he shared insights into his decision-making course of and experiences with the car.
Why Select an F-150 Lightning?
Jake and his spouse, Jess, each obsessed with sustainable transport and avid off-roaders, wished to discover the good open air in a zero-emission car. They’ve beforehand owned seven totally different electrical autos (EVs), together with fashions from Mitsubishi and Tesla, however nothing actually suited their off-road tenting wants till they encountered the F-150 Lightning.
When the car was unveiled in mid-2021, they have been captivated by its capabilities and envisioned the potential for eco-friendly household tenting journeys. This electrical 4×4 not solely matches their adventurous life-style but in addition permits them to remove gasoline utilization for cooking and heating, decreasing well being dangers related to fossil fuels.
In 2024, AusEV started importing the F-150 Lightning to Australia, changing it from left-hand to right-hand drive regionally whereas supporting native jobs and sourcing Australian parts. Jake praised AusEV for his or her dedication to high quality and native employment.
Plans for the Future
Jake’s firm, ODIN, is actively engaged on methods to scale back automotive dependence and supply alternate options to car possession. He envisions a rental fleet of electrical 4x4s that might permit households to entry environment friendly autos for each day use with out the necessity for full-time possession. This idea may considerably profit city households searching for bigger autos just for occasional journeys.
In late 2024, ODIN bought their very own F-150 Lightning to collect real-world information for creating their rental service. They’re exploring extra equipment to reinforce consumer confidence in renting electrical autos. One such mission is the "photo voltaic jerry can," a conveyable photo voltaic and battery system designed to cost autos off-grid whereas powering tenting home equipment.
Execs and Cons of the F-150 Lightning
Likes:
- Powered by 100% Australian-made power, supporting native jobs
- Potential for zero working prices with a complete guarantee and photo voltaic charging
- Excessive capabilities for electrical tenting
- Easy, quiet journey with spacious interiors
- Spectacular towing capability and ample storage
Dislikes:
- Restricted visible suggestions throughout autonomous driving in comparison with manufacturers like Tesla
- Customary audio system might be improved for audiophiles
- Lack of built-in security measures, which may be addressed with aftermarket choices
Jake and Jess are thrilled with their F-150 Lightning and the information they’re gathering. They’re optimistic about ODIN’s position in making electrical 4x4s extra accessible in Australia.
Testing the F-150 Lightning’s Capabilities
Jake steadily assessments the F-150 Lightning’s off-road capabilities at places like Noosa North Shore and Double Island Level, in addition to Okay’gari/Fraser Island. Upcoming assessments will even contain towing varied autos to evaluate efficiency.
Rising Entry to Electrical 4x4s
Jake believes that together with electrical 4x4s just like the F-150 Lightning in Australia’s New Car Effectivity Requirements (NVES) is essential. The present absence of the Lightning from this coverage is a setback for native companies like AusEV, which are attempting to fulfill client demand.
He advocates for a balanced method that encourages native manufacturing whereas guaranteeing that the market stays aggressive. Moreover, he requires the reinstatement of EV incentives to help wider adoption of electrical autos, particularly because the market matures.
Australia has the potential to guide within the electrical car trade, not simply as a provider of assets but in addition in native manufacturing.
In closing, Jake humorously contrasts the F-150 Lightning with a neighbor’s rusty Nineteen Sixties Holden ute—highlighting how far automotive know-how has come.
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