Flash's Batteries and Equipment For Rekindle Me

Exciting Announcement!!!!!!

Thankyou so much to everyone that has so far made incredible donations! We have now also had a miraculous private donation that has meant we can reduce the goal amount to $5000! We are so thankful to all of you!

Rekindle Me saves old electronics from ending up in landfill whether this be through re homing them or pulling them apart to recycle the metals, circuit boards, glass etc. Since Rekindle Me started, I have saved over 80 tonnes from landfill! Which all came from residents, businesses, schools and organisations in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven that wanted to get their ewaste recycled locally and responsibly. Rekindle Me also supports people with disabilities though partnering with Real Life Assistance to use Rekindle Me as work placement.

I am sure most people have seen my little electric red Japanese postal van called Flash buzzing around the local area that I use for Rekindle Me. Flash has been a reliable little van that is now 10 years old and over 100,000kms travelled which is quite a bit for my little van as he was only meant to buzz around inner city Tokyo! Flash’s battery was already very small when new, with only around 90kms of range and now that 10 years and over 100,000kms have passed the battery has begun to degrade faster than it should. This is due to the batteries not being charged for long periods of time and looked after properly before I got Flash.

To help these early electric vehicles keep up with modern EVs with much better batteries, people are now replacing the old and worn batteries with much better and higher density ones. Flash is in need of such an upgrade now that the battery is not getting the full range it did when new. Now it is only getting around 50kms driving around our hilly areas, which is cutting it very fine to reach my destinations and get home with a load in the back. The new much denser battery with better chemistry will allow me to get 250kms plus per charge and will last me much longer than the old batteries.

Due to a chronic pain disability in my feet, Flash is as close as I can get to a purpose made vehicle to help me be mobile in the community. Driving this van is much easier due to the regenerative breaking.

I also need electric lifting equipment in the warehouse to assist me moving heavy items of which my body struggles with, this equipment would make the running of my business much more smoother and efficient.

Replacing Flash's batteries is a specialized process with the labour and batteries costing approximately $16,000 to give Flash his heartbeat back!

We have already raised an incredible $5,000 with great thanks and dedicated organisation from Barbara Mathie in our local area, If you would like to help out Rekindle Me reach the goal to get new batteries and equipment to continue providing the vital service I provide for the communities that would be great! Any amount will help!