Retired Engineer Completes Solar-Powered Lap of Australia in Tesla Model 3

Andrew Mangano, a retired electrical engineer based in Perth, completed a 16,940-kilometer lap around Australia in a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, aiming to demonstrate that electric vehicles can be powered primarily by renewable energy. The 42-day journey, dubbed "Solarlap," was undertaken to refute the common criticism that EVs are effectively driven by fossil fuels.

What Happened

Mangano utilized his expertise in telecommunications and solar infrastructure to plan a route that prioritized charging stations with on-site solar arrays or those located in towns with significant renewable generation, such as Katherine and Norseman. Over the course of the trip, he recorded 69 charge sessions with a total cost of AU$1,649.04 and an average efficiency of 149.4 Wh/km. The route required meticulous planning using PlugShare and Google Earth to identify viable solar-powered chargers, a strategy necessitated by the sparse and often unreliable charging network in remote Western Australia, which Mangano referred to as the "Western Australian EV Notwork."

The journey was not without significant logistical hurdles, particularly in Western Australia where charger reliability was poor. Mangano encountered multiple instances of equipment failure, including Tritium chargers degraded to 8–10 kW due to cooling pump issues and standalone power systems at off-grid sites where diesel backups failed to start. On one leg, he arrived at Balladonia to find the charger completely dead, forcing him to rely on his remaining 50% charge to reach Norseman, 191 kilometers away. He also faced physical hazards, including a kangaroo collision near Karumba that left a shallow dent on the vehicle, and had to drive at reduced speeds to avoid livestock on roads used for grazing.

Why It Matters

Mangano’s expedition underscores the growing importance of charging location and timing for EV owners who wish to minimize their carbon footprint. While the Australian grid is increasingly integrating renewable sources, the engineer argues that where and when you charge still matters. By deliberately avoiding diesel-powered backup generators and fossil-fuel-heavy grid sections during daylight hours, he demonstrated that a low-carbon long-distance trip is feasible, even in remote regions. This practical proof point challenges the narrative that all EV charging is indirectly powered by coal, offering a data-backed counter-argument to critics who claim EVs are not truly green.

The trip also highlights critical infrastructure gaps and maintenance issues within the Australian EV charging network, particularly in Western Australia. Mangano’s experience with vandalized, broken, or degraded chargers illustrates the reliability challenges facing EV drivers in remote areas. His recommendation for future travelers includes carrying a vehicle with at least 400 km of highway range, preferably 500 km or more, and maintaining a diverse set of charging cables and RFID cards to navigate inconsistent network standards and authentication issues.

The Bottom Line

Andrew Mangano successfully completed a 16,940-km loop around Australia in 42 days, using mainly solar power for his Tesla Model 3 Long Range. His journey serves as a case study in EV efficiency and renewable energy integration, while simultaneously exposing the maintenance and reliability challenges of the remote charging infrastructure in Western Australia.