Two electric Kia Niro EV GoGet car share vehicles have arrived on site at the Nightingale Village project (Brunswick, Melbourne) offering an eco-friendly and convenient transportation solution for residents and the broader community.
If you live near Hope St Brunswick and want to try out an electric SUV you can now book Banks the Niro EV or Marc the Niro EV once you’re a GoGet member.
The three partners in the project (Nightingale Housing, GoGet and Momentum Energy) say this integration of renewable energy, electric car share vehicles and equitable housing showcases a smarter, more sustainable way of urban living. Each Nightingale resident is eligible for a free GoGet membership valued at $300/year.
Resident Jane commented:
“I’m very excited to able to access an electric vehicle. It’s really important for us to be able to live sustainably, so that’s one of the main reasons why we moved into Nightingale”.
Momentum Energy has supported the purchase of the two Kia Niro electric vehicles and is the preferred supplier to Nightingale projects of renewable energy solutions.
While the electricity going to Nightingale Village comes from the grid (which includes a combination of renewables and non-renewables) the Village Community has a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement with Momentum that matches its energy consumption with an equivalent amount of renewable energy generation from Tasmanian wind farms or other GreenPower accredited renewable energy sources.
Momentum Energy Managing Director Lisa Chiba said Momentum was delighted to be supporting the launch of an innovative electric vehicle and renewable energy solution:
“This initiative is a wonderful example of a collaboration to support a local community in accessing electric vehicles and being able to actively participate in electrification, and the transition to a cleaner energy future more broadly”
“This partnership offers a glimpse into the future in terms of how the integration of renewable energy, electric vehicles and equitable housing can deliver a smarter and more sustainable way of living.”
Momentum Energy is the mainland retailer owned by Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest generator of renewable energy. As Nightingale’s preferred supplier, Momentum is currently contracted to provide electricity to 10 Nightingale projects across Melbourne.
Upcoming Nightingale projects will use government accredited 100 per cent GreenPower purchased from Momentum Energy during the construction phase of its projects. After construction, power to residents is supplied via a CPPA.
Dan McKenna, CEO, Nightingale Housing, said the benefit extends beyond the residents of Nightingale Village:
“GoGet is already doing an amazing job of lowering domestic carbon emissions by reducing the need for individual car ownership”.
“Introducing these electric vehicles to their fleet is an exciting evolution. We’re grateful to both GoGet and Momentum Energy for helping Nightingale residents and the broader community live even more sustainably”.
Nightingale Housing is a not-for-profit organisation building apartments that are socially, financially and environmentally sustainable. Its aim is to reorient the housing market to focus on delivering quality housing for residents, rather than investors.
Nightingale homes are: sold at cost; minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rated; car free where practical; located close to public transport; and designed to support community. Nightingale aims to allocate 20% of homes in each project to community housing providers, who offer secure rental accommodation to people in need.
Darcy Lechte, Carshare Strategic Planner for GoGet, said carshare in apartment blocks, and now EV carshare, immediately deliver both affordable and sustainable transport benefits:
“GoGet already has a proven positive impact on climate and congestion every day with our fleet of conventional vehicles. We look forward to a day soon when EVs are competitively priced”.
“Until then, initiatives like this will help to showcase and demonstrate the positive impact electrification when combined with renewable energy can have in the community”.
GoGet is Australia’s first and largest professional car sharing service and operates in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. tg
GoGet’s aim is to provide a reliable, convenient and affordable transport service that: allows people to live without car ownership.
GoGet is operated by CarShare Australia, formed to bring car sharing services to Australia. Founded by Directors Nic Lowe and Bruce Jeffreys in 2003 with three vehicles and 12 members, today GoGet has over 3,500 vehicles and 200,000 members.
