An electric future that is here now

Driving into Torrisi’s Garage, it’s as if you have arrived in a scene straight from the movie Back to the Future – but Marty McFly and Doc Brown are nowhere to be seen.

Parked inside the garage with its 1960s façade and charm isn’t a DeLorean, but an electric car indicating the future has already arrived. 

Volt Car Rentals is the new addition to Torrisi’ Garage., which has been owned by Scott Hession and Casey Tiller for the past seven years.

Scott and Casey have watched the electric vehicle revolution for quite some time before deciding to take a risk and start Volt Car Rentals.

They have taken a traditional industry and have powered new opportunities -literally.

Volt Car Rentals is just one of the many examples of our region’s ‘over the horizon’ thinking where our businesses and industries are focused on seizing the opportunities that decarbonisation brings.

Scott said that although demand for electric vehicles is increasing, the charging infrastructure in our region is a challenge.

“We do have quite a good charging network up and down the coastline from Brisbane to Port Douglas, but heading west to the Isaac region there is no fast-charging infrastructure at all.

“There are some places that allow you to use a ten AMP power point, but obviously when you're traveling that distance, it will take 24-36 hours to recharge from empty to full.”

Scott said not having enough charging stations out in rural areas may deter people from owning or hiring electric vehicles.

“Vehicles can be charged anywhere from renewable energy setups.

“It is about changing the mindset. Some people will use the excuse that, ‘Oh, I can't drive a thousand kilometres without having to recharge a vehicle’.

Scott said many electric vehicles on the market these days will easily do 250 to 300 kilometres without having to recharge and that most people don’t regularly travel one thousand kilometres in one day.

“Most of us only do around 20 to 60 kilometres to and from work. So, the infrastructure is there. You can plug it in at work, you can plug in at home.

“It's a very simple adaption to decarbonize.”

When it comes to the world of decarbonisation, Scott believes education is the key to embrace a cleaner, greener future.

“We tried things out, we tested them before we made any commitment to purchasing and investing into electric vehicles as well. It is a scary thing for business to try innovative technologies and reduce their carbon footprint.

“Innovation has been always at the forefront of my mind. Being someone different and thinking outside the box has helped me to keep up with the latest technologies and what's happening in the automotive world.

“It is rapidly changing week by week, new technologies and different safety features and obviously technologies with renewables.”

Find out more here: https://voltcarrentals.com.au/