In September, UWA Engineering’s Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV) celebrated its 15-year anniversary with alumni, project partners and sponsors. REV started in 2008 with the electric conversion of a Hyundai Getz and a Lotus Elise, then in 2011 with the WA EV Trial with 11 converted Ford Focus and WA’s first EV charging network started.

When electric vehicles finally become commercially available, REV shifted towards building autonomous vehicles, including a driver-assistance system for a BMW X5 and fully autonomous versions of a Formula SAE race car and two EasyMile shuttle buses.

Besides cars, REV has also built electric watercraft in the form of an electric jet-ski and an automatically stabilised electric hydrofoil ski. 

The reunion brought together sponsors, project partners, and some 50 alumni who worked on various REV projects over the years and many of whom now work on automation projects in the industry. 

The new Blueberry EV charging station at EZONE was also officially launched at the event. Funded equally by UWA and external sponsors, this new DC charger has a massive 200kW output and is one of the most powerful EV chargers in WA. 

The REV Team acknowledges all the sponsors, especially major sponsors Allkem, Stockland CD Dodd and Dyflex. We also appreciate the donations which made the new charging station possible, especially from David Lloyd, Tesla WA Roadster Inc, Tesla Owners Club WA and Tesla Owners Australia.