Origin in deal with Tesla to help bring Model S to Australia

Origin Energy might sometimes have a funny way of showing its support for renewable energy, but at least it’s doing its bit to support Australia’s nascent electric vehicle movement. Having been part of a recent one-off deal to provide 100 per cent renewable energy for Holden Australia via six on-site charging stations supplied by ChargePoint, Australia’s largest retailer has today announced a partnership with Tesla Motors to support the US EV-maker’s introduction of its much talked-about Model S to the Australian market.

Tesla is set to launch the Model S five door sedan – the company’s first full-sized sedan, with a range of 480km – in Australia from mid 2013 after a fairly successful roll-out in the US since June; capped off this month by winning 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year in a unanimous vote from the panel of judges. Reservations for the Model S currently exceed 13,000 worldwide.

In a similar deal to that which was brokered between Better Place and Holden for Volt customers, Tesla owners in Australia will have access to Origin’s accredited GreenPower, a variety of fully-installed charging equipment and services, and electricity management systems and advice.

Tesla’s Australia & New Zealand manager, Jay McCormack, said the agreement with Origin would provide Model S owners with the opportunity to use energy generated from renewable resources – although possibly not from wind energy, if Origin’s recent comments about Australia’s attitude to wind farms are to be taken seriously – and reduce the transport sectors’ dependence on oil – “a goal both of our companies share,” McCormack said.