The coffee cart powered by solar and batteries that were headed for landfill

I first saw the solar coffee cart at the Australian Electrical Vehicles EV experience day at Cleveland. But it was so popular that I couldn’t get anywhere near it, nor did I get a chance to chat with the man behind the project, Tony Sharp.

We finally caught up today and had the most incredible conversation about Substation 33 (which owns the cart).

The cart is powered by 13 solar panels that were destined for landfill from a renovation site. The power from the panels is stored in batteries recycled from laptops and phones. The cart is staffed by students from YMCA schools who are learning to be Baristas.

These young people, many of whom have been unable to prosper in the regular schooling system, have the opportunity to learn job and people skills and have conversations about saving the planet (on several levels). At many fund raising events the cart is paid for by organizers to provide free coffee for participants.

This saves on cash transfer and creates a conversation around recycling and collaborative partnerships. It’s not about the coffee – it’s about the story.

To book the coffee cart, event organizers can email Substation 33.  A technical expert arrives with the volunteers who set up – unfolding the 13 panels like an awning – make coffee and do the cleaning up.

Tony describes himself as a knock about guy who wanted to do something to help create more job opportunities in Logan city (south of Brisbane). He founded substation33 as a Not for Profit 10 years ago. Substation 33 processes 200 tonnes of e-waste and turns over a million dollars a year. It holds BGR status.

Substation 33 is the training arm for NGO YFF. They now have 14 paid workers who coach, train and mentor the 600 volunteers from a range of demographics who perform 80,000 hours of work per year. Tony tells me they place 100 people a year into regular jobs ranging from manual labour to hospitality to a high end engineer.

David Waterworth is a researcher and writer, a retired school teacher who continues to provoke thought through thedriven. He divides his time between looking after his grandchildren and trying to make sure they have a planet to live on. He is long on Tesla.