Electric Vehicles

The Driven Podcast: Simon Hackett’s chance meeting with young Elon Musk

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Simon Hackett made his fortune in the broadband boom (when he sold Internode to iiNet) and is now the largest shareholder in Australian-based battery storage maker Redflow.

He’s also Australia’s biggest fan of Tesla electric vehicles, taking the first delivery of the original Roadster (he wasn’t allowed to drive it on Australian roads) after a chance meeting with an ambitious young man called Elon Musk.

Hackett then took deliver of a Roadster that was allowed on Australia’s roads, and then the first delivery of the Model S. Hackett shares his passion and joy for EVs, how he manages his charging needs, and what he thinks is required to take the industry forward.

It’s a compelling interview. You can listen to it here, along with our previous TheDriven podcasts with Tony Seba and Alan Finkel, or on your favourite podcast platform.

Zero Mow is a proud sponsor of The Driven Podcast

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Giles Parkinson

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

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