A Castlemaine man hopes to start a new business converting standard fuel run cars into electric vehicles – like Castlemaine’s former Blade business did between 2008-2012.
In fact Randal Berger owns and drives a 2008 Blade Electron that he recharges using the bank of solar panels on the roof of his Castlemaine home.
Nicknamed “Sparky” his Blade Electron was created right here in Castlemaine back in 2008 when Blade – run by Ross Blade – was operating here, converting conventional Hyundai Getz cars into EVs by retrofitting them with electric motors, speed controllers and battery packs.
“It was built for the City of Melbourne,” Randall says of Sparky.
“I actually saw this car and met Ross Blade in 2009 at a sustainability festival in Fed Square. It is a little piece of Australian engineering history. A total of 54 were built, some of which were exported to New Zealand. Many are still alive”.
While Blade may have wound up back in 2012, today Randall and some of the engineers who were part of the Blade team have a renewed vision to see another similar local business reinstated to affordably “recycle” conventional cars as EVs.
“While many cars have clapped out engines, the rest of the vehicle is in quite good condition,” Randall says.
“Why not extend their useful lives as recycled EVs? More in the Castlemaine Mail, Friday February 7, 2020