Two weeks ago Thursday we packed up our 2015 Ford Focus All Electric car and headed out from Baraboo to Custer Wisconsin to attend The 28th Annual Energy Fair at the MREA. We originally were going to take the company truck and I had mentioned to Keith that in total the trip was almost 98 miles for us from our home to the grounds. And that we should be able to take the car and charge about 65 miles up to make it the remainder 22 miles of the trip. So we decided if we could pack everything in the car we would take it. I also knew once we arrived at the MREA we would be able to charge there because they had just installed a ton of new EV charging stations.
So for those of you that don't know anything about the Ford Focus all Electric cars here is some info on them. The average range is 75 miles and depending on how you are driving, wind and whether you need to run the AC or the heat that average can vary a little bit. Can also depend on your speed and if you take back roads, highways or the interstate.
So for those of you that don't know anything about the Ford Focus all Electric cars here is some info on them. The average range is 75 miles and depending on how you are driving, wind and whether you need to run the AC or the heat that average can vary a little bit. Can also depend on your speed and if you take back roads, highways or the interstate.
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We took all back roads and highways, no interstate. We went through the Dells and pretty much a straight shot North on 13 till we almost hit Stevens Point. A little bit South of Stevens Point we turned off to head towards the MREA grounds. Our average speed was about 50 mph. Once we were close to the place we were planning on charging and realized we had enough to keep going without stopping to charge we drove right on past.
When we arrived at the MREA we still had +11 miles of range left in the car. We really could have gone the speed limit and still made it without running out of range. We were quite surprised by the car going 98 miles without a charge and still having a remaining surplus of 11 miles. I already knew I loved this car, but this made it even better knowing I have better range than what it says it has.
I also have to say it cost us $0.00 to drive 98 miles because the car was fully charged with power generated from the sun through our solar panels we have on our home. Also a huge shout out and thank you the MREA and Alliant Energy for allowing all of us EV Car owners to charge our vehicles with the new charging stations. Along with zero cost to us. Even though the actual charging cost is only about $2.50 to charge my car to full capacity.
I also have to say it cost us $0.00 to drive 98 miles because the car was fully charged with power generated from the sun through our solar panels we have on our home. Also a huge shout out and thank you the MREA and Alliant Energy for allowing all of us EV Car owners to charge our vehicles with the new charging stations. Along with zero cost to us. Even though the actual charging cost is only about $2.50 to charge my car to full capacity.
Once we arrived at the MREA we had a meeting with RENEW Wisconsin so while we were in the meeting the car charged up. Once it was fully charged up it gave me a 115 mile range! Awesome if I do say so myself!
For those of you that are not familiar with the MREA or RENEW Wisconsin please go check out their websites at https://www.midwestrenew.org & http://www.renewwisconsin.org/index.htm
Please join both RENEW and the MREA to help support and fight for renewable energy advocacy and education.
For those of you that are not familiar with the MREA or RENEW Wisconsin please go check out their websites at https://www.midwestrenew.org & http://www.renewwisconsin.org/index.htm
Please join both RENEW and the MREA to help support and fight for renewable energy advocacy and education.
Here are a few shots of our booth we had set up at The Energy Fair. It was beautiful weather and a great location! I took this shot before they opened the gates Friday morning. We spoke with hundreds of people each day that had an interest in having a solar installation put on their roof and/or property. Many people with questions about solar as well. Keith, Martin and I enjoyed speaking with everyone and are looking forward to attending again next year!
| One of the wonderful things about the The Energy Fair is all the organic all natural foods that you can eat while you're here! Between the member dinner's and the vendors selling foods it's all excellent! If you ever have a chance to try Fizzeology sauerkraut I highly recommend trying it. They are all really good! I spoke with Faith and she said she has set up at fermentation fest in the past so that could be another way to find her locally. It would be great if The Grainery in Baraboo would carry them as well! |  |
 | Another one of my favorites is Soap Nuts. If you have not tried them you should! I use them for my laundry along with the dishwasher soap and they both work great! And bonus there are no chemicals in the soaps. |
There is so much to see the The Energy Fair and being that we had a booth this year I didn't get a chance to walk around and see everything. I am hoping next year I will be able to more.
So this bad boy here is my dream vehicle! This is the Tesla Model X! This SUV has room for up to 7 adults, a range of 295 miles and can go from 0 to 60 in 2.9 sec. And if you did not already know it is all electric.
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Such a sweet sight to see all these Tesla's pulling in to charge! Check out all the Tesla models below.
We had the pleasure of listening to JB Straubel speak Saturday evening and tell his story of where he came from and where he is today. Did you know he turned a 1984 Porsche 944 into an electric car that had a range of about 25 miles? He told Elon Musk his crazy idea and Elon said let's run with it. Along with obvious hard work and dedication they now have Tesla. Thank you to crazy ideas and an eagerness to make this world a better place.
They held a member's dinner for those that would like to attend with JB Straubel. We of course could not pass it up and also had the pleasure of speaking with him before dinner. One of the questions that we had talked about amongst ourselves was where is the Porsche 944 now? So when he was walking by I asked if I could ask him a quick question. I asked him where his Porsche is now and JB said in his garage. We conversed a bit more with him about whether he was going to leave it as is or restore it and then let him continue on to dinner. Well guess who sat directly behind the guys!? Why yes JB himself and his beautiful wife. It was an honor to attend both the event he spoke at and being able to speak with him at the dinner.
| Check out this electric bike! This guy converted this 1979 Honda CX500 to electric. At a total cost back when he did it of $3500. He said with today's cost it would be half the price. Here's the specs on it if you're curious.  |  |
The first extended range electric truck made it's appearance as well. The Chevy VIA goes 40 miles in all electric mode and a full range of 400 miles on a single fill-up.
The Bolt EV has a 238 mile range and has lots of room in it and is same price as most new cars out there and you would have no fuel costs.
Back to my trusty sidekick my 2015 Ford Focus EV. I love this car, but on the rare occasion I need to go farther than it's range. A longer range would be great. The new Ford Focus has a range of 118 miles which is better and the price is less than most EV's out there. But I have to say come on Ford catch up to the other manufacturer's on the range!
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I do have to give it a lot of credit it though both on the way up and on the way back it went farther than the average miles of 75 and went 98 miles and both times we had a surplus of 11. So I would guess the new one would probably be able to do 160 miles on one charge.
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