Extinction Rebellion activist Daniel Bleakley has been putting some mates and coal-miners living in his Central Queensland home town in the driver’s seat of his Tesla Model 3 electric car.
The reactions are absolutely priceless.
In two videos shared via Twitter, Bleakley has, it would seem, won over drivers in the coal-mining of Clermont (and which is the closest town to the proposed Adani coal mine), simply by insisting they put their feet hard down on the accelerator.
“My brother drives a haul truck at a coal mine near our home town in Central Queensland,” wrote Bleakely in a Twitter post on Wednesday, which has now been viewed more than 100,000 times.
“He took the @tesla out to show some of his workmates. Unlike @mattjcan these boys have real coal dust on their faces.
“The reactions are priceless,” he said. “EVs winning hearts & minds in CQ!”
We have to warn you there’s a bit of language in both videos, but the message is clear:
“Did that convert you?” the driver is asked.
“Yeah!” is the answer.
My brother drives a haul truck at a coal mine near our home town in Central Queensland.
He took the @tesla out to show some of his workmates.
Unlike @mattjcan these boys have real coal dust on their faces.
The reactions are priceless 😂
EVs winning hearts & minds in CQ!
âš¡âš¡ pic.twitter.com/EOcqEdPCI1— Daniel Bleakley (@DanielBleakley) April 28, 2021
Bleakely then posted a second video on Thursday after putting is “old school larrikin” mate Dan behind the wheel.
“My old school mate & “old school” Larrikan Dan taking the @tesla for a joyride outside my home town Clermont in Central Queensland,” Bleakley.
“Dan’s family owns a farm in region. Clermont is also the closest town to the proposed Adani Coal mine.”
Dan, it would seem, is equally impressed.
“You know the best, part,” he says. “You go hooning…. and the neighbours aren’t going to call the cops because of all the f@$king noise.”
While we’re not suggesting every miner and his dog drive recklessly around town in EVs, we have to agree with the sentiment!
My old school mate & "old school" Larrikan Dan taking the @tesla for a joyride outside my home town Clermont in Central Queensland.
Dan's family owns a farm in region.
Clermont is also the closest town to the proposed Adani Coal mine.
EVs winning hearts and minds in CQ!
âš¡âš¡ pic.twitter.com/ygcggwcEMn— Daniel Bleakley (@DanielBleakley) April 29, 2021
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.