“Electrical Automobiles Are Homosexual” – CleanTechnica

Kav, name signal “Havok,” rides a Harley-Davidson. His spouse drives a Tesla Mannequin 3 LR. She additionally rides a Kawasaki Vulcan 650. When he informed his biker mates that she was getting an electrical automobile, they stated: “Electrical autos are homosexual, mate!”

We met for espresso this morning within the Brisbane CBD in order that Kav and his spouse Marzi might inform me their intriguing story. We parked at King George Sq. automotive park, the place there are 8 vacation spot chargers the place you’ll be able to cost at no cost. How good is that! Whereas we sat for espresso, Kav confronted a technique and counted 15 Teslas driving previous, Majella confronted the opposite method and noticed 15 extra, two Polestars, and a few BYDs. Electrical vehicles are actually making their presence felt within the metropolis!

Marzi and Kav arrived in Australia from Iran 8 years in the past. Kav works as an engineer on oil rigs and Marzi is an administration officer with Queensland Well being. Sadly, she was unable to proceed her profession in IT when she arrived in Australia, as her English wasn’t adequate. It’s excellent now. In Iran, Kav used to race vehicles when he wasn’t working the rigs. Marzi was an IT engineer designing interconnecting {hardware}.

I met Kav at one in every of our “Espresso, Cake and EV” mornings and anticipated the Tesla story to be about him. However he’s adamant that though he drives it, the Tesla Mannequin 3 belongs to Marzi. Havok explains:

Kav’s Harley and Marzi’s Mannequin 3. Photograph by Kav Karooie.

How did Marzi come to purchase a Tesla? “We had been attempting to substitute the fuel-guzzling FJ Cruiser with a extra economical and comfy choice for Marzi’s commute to work. Upon researching and take a look at driving, we got here throughout a second-hand (very low-kilometer) Mannequin 3 rear-wheel drive, which Marzi cherished.

“We even put down a deposit however we quickly realized that since we’re spending properly over AU$60,000, we’d as properly spend a bit of extra and profit from a extra highly effective and extra beefy Lengthy Vary. We even brushed on the concept of a Efficiency mannequin as properly, however the 600km journey vary weighed the dimensions far more than the 1 sec acceleration superiority.

“So we acquired our deposit again and went straight to the supply and met with Elon himself, as he was a lot keen to fulfill with us. (Yeah proper! LOL — not April 1 anymore!) A few months later, right here we’re, a flashy head-turner Tesla for her and me with my beard within the wind on my wanna-be gangster Harley.”

Marzi and her husband dwell in a small city to the south of Brisbane. She tells me that she feels bullied by a few of the locals since she has purchased her Tesla. The automotive will get a lot of consideration. The opposite day she was driving at 53 km an hour in a 50 km/h zone and a pedestrian yelled at her to “decelerate.” The issue with the Tesla, we agreed, was that it seems quick, it doesn’t matter what velocity it’s going.

I requested what kind of behaviors she has to place up with on the highway. She talked about folks not giving method, particularly when there was a must merge, and tailgating. There have been points on roundabouts, primarily with the massive tradies’ utes. She says that it doesn’t occur a lot when Kaveh is within the automotive — so we mentioned that perhaps it’s as a result of she is a lady driver. May make one other article maybe? In Iran, she says, there have been comparable attitudes to girls drivers. She thought issues can be higher in Australia.

Marzi has observed a rise in bullying driving habits since getting her Tesla. She purchased the automotive in white, as she is planning to have it wrapped — maybe she ought to select an not noticeable colour.

Kaveh introduced that his spouse was getting a Tesla to his bikers group. “He’s acquired a Tesla!!” All people laughed. Kav describes himself as a little bit of a hothead “I experience to die,” so he threw down the gauntlet immediately. “Let’s have a drag race,” he says to his mates — “your bike, my EV — we’ll quickly see if EVs are homosexual.” Nobody took him up on the supply. [Editor’s note: There are clearly serious issues with the phrase and insinuations regarding “EVs are gay.” However, when considering how to handle that, I went ahead and decided it captures the mentality and culture of the group a bit, so these statements have been left in — Zach]

A small a part of Kav and Marzi’s assortment. Photograph by Kav Karooie.

Kaveh has a set of vehicles and bikes and he’s planning to make a YouTube video exhibiting the prevalence of EVs in energy and velocity. He didn’t need an EV for environmental causes — it’s a superior driving machine. He actually has an incredible viewers to persuade. He tells me that it isn’t simply EVs — bikers simply don’t need to change. Harley-Davidson is frequently enhancing the know-how of its bikes, however some bikers simply need the previous motor. “They like the previous twin cam, not the brand new Milwaukie 8.” I requested what the distinction was — shorter push rods, 4 valves, 4 spark plugs, higher coil. And it nonetheless makes the identical HD sound.

The opposite day, he wanted to borrow a low-profile jack to alter the tyres on the Mannequin 3. His neighbour had a customer — “Why do you want a low-profile jack? You’ve acquired a Tesla; I wouldn’t purchase that electrical shit!” That’s what he stated whereas leaning on his banged-up Toyota Hilux. I keep in mind after they first got here to Australia and Toyota was derided as toy vehicles and low cost Japanese garbage. A lot of educating to do! I’ve steered to Kaveh and Marzi that they arrive to some EV expos with us.

At some point, out within the Tesla Mannequin 3, Kaveh pulled up on the lights subsequent to a Suzuki Gixxer 750. He waved on the rider and indicated it might be good to check the bike in opposition to the automotive. The biker downshifted in readiness and Kaveh left him behind over 200 m. As soon as they acquired to visitors, Kaveh let him go.

So, he rides a Harley (which “turns petrol into noise and warmth”), drives a Tesla Mannequin 3, and works on oil rigs? The Tesla is a carbon offset, I joke. I requested him what he truly did on the drilling rigs and he requested, “Have you ever seen ‘Deep Water Horizon’? That’s what I do.” He has labored on the Ocean Monarch, star of the film Armageddon. He tells me that he runs downhole instruments after the drilling of the properly to finish the job and have it prepared for manufacturing.

When he’s “onshore,” he makes movies and spends time together with his mates. Out for drinks the opposite night time, one of many EV scoffers requested for a raise house. Marzi did some “takeoffs” and the mate went from “wouldn’t purchase that electrical shit” to “the place do I get one in every of these?” This was all whereas singing Caraoke. Here’s a pattern of 1 his YouTube opinions.

Kav is just not a giant fan of the Livewire although it’s a Harley. Some Harley riders, nonetheless, have made the change and finished some superb feats.

Kav has 6.6 kW of photo voltaic on his roof, and now that he has an electrical automotive to cost, he needs he had put in extra.

He has to inform me yet another story earlier than we go. He was using by way of town and pulled up subsequent to a blue Mannequin 3 on the lights. The motive force courteously moved left to permit the bike to maneuver as much as the entrance and Kav thanked him. They’d a short chat and Kav informed him that his spouse had a Tesla and the automotive might simply beat the bike when the lights went inexperienced. They tried it. In the long run, Kav on his 1800cc HD Slim simply acquired forward of the automotive. Kav is certain that it was as a result of the Tesla driver was new to the automotive and didn’t know its full potential.

Now Kav and Marzi need a Cybertruck. Let’s see anybody bully her in a type of!!

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