Pictured Diesel EV Charger Is A Prototype Located In The Australian Desert

Rebecca Bowen

Technology

14th July 2021

Pictured Diesel EV Charger Is A Prototype Located In The Australian Desert

It was installed along the longest straight road in the world (Getty Images).

The Claim

Electric car chargers that run on diesel are “popping up everywhere.”

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Emerging story

In early July, social media users began circulating an image that allegedly showed a diesel generator running an electric car charger, accompanied by the claim that they are “popping up everywhere.” Some posts contained comments that connected these images with leftist environmental policies and speculated that electric cars were damaging to the environment. One user stated, “the future of electric cars… you have to really want it to be this big of an idiot.”

Misbar’s Analysis

Our investigation found that the diesel-generated charging station in this image is the only model of its kind. It’s a prototype, which is located in an isolated part of the Australian desert called the Nullarbor Plains, an almost treeless area of about 77,000 sq miles that is largely devoid of infrastructure.

In 2018, TheDriven reported about a man who was attempting to travel across the Nullarbor Plains in an electric vehicle. With the longest stretch of straight road on the planet, electric car drivers would face a challenge in attempting to make the long journey. This charger’s designer sought to make travel possible for electric car drivers in such an isolated area.

The creator has further modified his charger to run on biodiesel as well. Biodiesel is recycled oils and fats, like old cooking oil or leftover animal fats. Diesel engines are surprisingly versatile, with examples like the Military M35A2: its “multifuel” engine can run on biodiesel, jet fuel, used motor oil, transmission fluid, or any combination of these and other fluids. Biodiesel engines burning used cooking oil have the added benefit of making your vehicle emission smell like delicious french fries.