CleanTechnica Tesla Shuttle Aims To Conquer 12 Central & Eastern European Countries
Some people seem to be born with a particularly adventurous, exploratory gene. I get the sense my colleague Tomek Gać, another Tesla Shuttle co-founder, is one of those people.
It seems he is pulled to go on a long, adventurous electric car trip every few months. He took a Nissan LEAF from Poland to Wales last year. He got his first electric car, also a Nissan LEAF, several years ago when there was more or less no charging infrastructure in the country (beyond normal electricity outlets). In fact, I think he may have been one of the first 50 people in Poland with an electric car.
Tomek recently had a plan to drive a LEAF in a giant loop through Central and Eastern Europe … but then, alas, the idea of taking a Tesla took over. Naturally, one of the first thoughts that popped into our heads was, “Hey, that would be a cool adventure to highlight on CleanTechnica!”
What is the EV scene and EV charging like in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia? Well, we will find out and get reports back to you in the coming week and a half.
As you can see, CleanTechnica will also get a bit of physical exposure — outside of a computer screen, tablet, or telephone! We’ve branded one side of the car with the CleanTechnica logo and our tagline, “The Future is Now.”
Tomek will be reporting back on his findings along the way, and Tesla Shuttle co-founder + CleanTechnica contributor Jacek Fior and I will be using his notes and pictures to publish stories here. Stay tuned!
Also, let us know if you have any special requests or ideas for the trip.
Here’s are a couple of quotes from Tomek and Jacek about the trip:
“It’s a fantastic way to promote what we all believe is the future,” Jacek notes. “That is, EVs. Not only that, though, driving EVs slows you down, somehow naturally. After slow city, slow food, we should surely promote a slow travel movement. Your sense of using kWh is way higher than your sense of burning octanes, and so driving becomes a bit slower and more peaceful. Charging gives you a chance to take a break and interact with people. Since EVs are still a novelty in many places, such interactions evolve into longer discussions. Could there be a better way to travel? Yes, we are envious. 🙂 We’ll feel even more envious when photos start coming in. Expect many stories to come, then.”
“I love to test the limits of technology,” Tomek adds, “and I love to use, promote, and enjoy green products. We need clean air. We need a stable climate. And we can actually live our lives as we do today with clean solar power, clean electric vehicles, and clean consciences. Why not?
“We will see if towing by horses will be needed in the mountains of Romania, Macedonia, or Albania. Hopefully we will find friendly people if the situation requires help. 🙂 Anyway, we are in team of good friends, so we will overcome difficulties.
“Big thanks to my wife and children that they let me go for 10 days for this EV trip — to look for boundaries. 😉 “
To close out this first article in the road trip series, here are several more photos of the CleanTechnica Tesla getting ready for the trip and just hanging out in the nice spring weather (luckily, it doesn’t get allergies … yet):
Related: Tesla Model S long-term review
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