I bought this 2010 model in Victoria, Australia just over a year ago with 126,000km on the clock (~78,000 miles). The range was down to about 70% of its original, but it had had no other problems or breakdowns. Eight months ago, I had the batteries upgraded to the 30kWh pack by Oz Electric Vehicles. The range is now around 240km. I kept the old batteries and used the best 84 of them to make an off-grid solar charging station in my shed, also using second-hand solar panels. I haven't used grid electricity to charge it since. It runs entirely on sunbeams.
![01.JPG 01.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/64-2f0a25ecdff1feab6320a9420be926d8.jpg)
Now I have a matching "sidecar"
![02.JPG 02.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/65-fbfb9cc465db6db1c4d8023e651eb4bf.jpg)
And my shed is looking like a campaign poster for The Greens Party
![03.JPG 03.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/66-1855838854078154ea0aced7d2fa6e4a.jpg)
My rusty rural shed roof is north-facing, so it is home to the solar panels
![04.JPG 04.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/68-0c21b371d6ecc137a2dc4308f69da23b.jpg)
The 84 used LEV50 batteries are arranged in groups of 12 parallel by 7 in series to give me 29 volts at 600 Ah.
![05.JPG 05.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/69-4e16b9e1bd9c553d40c9809022ee9a00.jpg)
Via an inverter, the old batteries can charge up the new
![06.JPG 06.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/70-393e59edca6b6062805b9fd04ebce46e.jpg)
Now I'm a Highway Star: One of the remaining spare batteries now powers my Bluetooth speakers in the shed
![07.JPG 07.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/71-7d6e64b5bae32128dfa0ec3a4a36d941.jpg)
If I could find the right adapter cable, I'd try charging from one of these
![14.JPG 14.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/74-d7916178698982c9f5261a1c4509c79d.jpg)
And finally, is this a sign of the times?
![08.JPG 08.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/73-7cfc2d37ff3c9bc781741071a62d47d3.jpg)
![01.JPG 01.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/64-2f0a25ecdff1feab6320a9420be926d8.jpg)
Now I have a matching "sidecar"
![02.JPG 02.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/65-fbfb9cc465db6db1c4d8023e651eb4bf.jpg)
And my shed is looking like a campaign poster for The Greens Party
![03.JPG 03.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/66-1855838854078154ea0aced7d2fa6e4a.jpg)
My rusty rural shed roof is north-facing, so it is home to the solar panels
![04.JPG 04.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/68-0c21b371d6ecc137a2dc4308f69da23b.jpg)
The 84 used LEV50 batteries are arranged in groups of 12 parallel by 7 in series to give me 29 volts at 600 Ah.
![05.JPG 05.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/69-4e16b9e1bd9c553d40c9809022ee9a00.jpg)
Via an inverter, the old batteries can charge up the new
![06.JPG 06.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/70-393e59edca6b6062805b9fd04ebce46e.jpg)
Now I'm a Highway Star: One of the remaining spare batteries now powers my Bluetooth speakers in the shed
![07.JPG 07.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/71-7d6e64b5bae32128dfa0ec3a4a36d941.jpg)
If I could find the right adapter cable, I'd try charging from one of these
![14.JPG 14.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/74-d7916178698982c9f5261a1c4509c79d.jpg)
And finally, is this a sign of the times?
![08.JPG 08.JPG](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/myimiev/data/attachments/0/73-7cfc2d37ff3c9bc781741071a62d47d3.jpg)