With my #eBike4Australia journey close to the finish line, it was fitting that my final stop was with someone who’s not just talking about climate solutions but building them. Last night and this morning, I had the privilege of staying with Saul Griffith and his family in Wollongong. When I arrived, Saul was out in his front yard, working on an electric go-kart for his kids - or maybe for himself, given that he claimed it could go from 0 to 100 km/h faster than a Tesla! Saul is a brilliant engineer, inventor, and climate advocate. He is revolutionising the way the world thinks about achieving zero-emissions. Australia is lucky to have him. And I’m lucky to now call him a friend.
At 5am this morning, Saul joined me, along with my Canberra long-distance cycling buddy Ian, on our ride out of Wollongong along the spectacular Seacliff Bridge and into the Royal National Park. While Ian fixed a flat tyre, Saul and I talked about Saul’s vision: a practical, no-nonsense approach to decarbonising Australia and the world through electrification. Saul’s philosophy can be summed up in one simple concept: rewiring.
Rewiring Australia, Rewiring the World
So what is "rewiring"? In essence, Saul’s approach is based on incrementally and progressively electrifying everything - our homes, cars, and industries - using renewable energy. He’s the founder of Rewiring Australia, an initiative advocating for widespread electrification as the most effective, immediate, and practical way to cut emissions.
Saul’s work is not just theoretical; it’s grounded in numbers and practicality. His research shows Australia can achieve major emissions reductions by focusing on:
1. Electricity generation through renewables like solar and wind.
2. Transportation by transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) and e-bikes!
3. Building energy use by electrifying household appliances and heating systems.
From the US to Australia: Saul’s Global Impact
Before returning to Australia during COVID, Saul made waves in the United States with Rewiring America, a campaign to electrify American homes and businesses. Saul’s influence even reached the White House, where his advocacy helped shape key components of President Biden’s climate agenda, including tax credits for electric appliances and incentives for rooftop solar installations.
In both countries, Saul’s message is clear: cutting emissions doesn’t need futuristic, expensive technology. It can be done with tools that already exist - electric heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicles, and e-bikes. By shifting from gas to electricity, households can not only reduce their carbon footprints but also save money in the long run.
Electrification is More Affordable Than You Think
One of the most remarkable insights Saul has brought is that electrification is more affordable than sticking with fossil fuels. While there’s an upfront investment in upgrading appliances or installing solar, the long-term savings in energy bills and the reduction in maintenance costs far outweigh these costs.
Saul’s principle is simple: replace everything that currently runs on fossil fuels with electric versions powered by renewables - particularly when the fossil-fuelled items are at the end of their lives. This isn’t some lofty, unattainable goal. It’s happening now. Across Australia, homes are being powered by rooftop solar, cars are running on clean energy, and the grid is slowly but surely shifting to renewables. And as technology improves, the transition will become cheaper and more accessible. At a personal level, we’ve already done it in my family home in Canberra. As a result we no longer get energy bills. Our provider pays us!
A Kindred Spirit on Climate Action
To me, Saul is clearly not just an engineer and innovator. He’s a kindred spirit in the fight for climate action. Saul’s no-nonsense approach resonates deeply with me. While governments and corporations often get bogged down in rhetoric, distractions and delay, Saul is out there making things happen. He’s showing us that the path to zero-emissions and a safe future is not a distant dream - it’s as simple as rewiring the systems we already rely on.
My #eBike4Australia journey has been about more than just cycling across our continent and between two oceans. It’s been about raising awareness, sparking conversations, and most importantly, proving that the solutions to climate change are within our grasp. Saul’s work encapsulates this. We have the tools, the people and the knowledge. What’s left is the will to act. If we can rewire Australia, we can rewire the world. And thanks to people like Saul Griffith, there’s real hope.
Just a matter of rewiring? This is another case of energy-SCALE denial, and ignorance of how deeply embedded fossil fuels are in bloated economies. The late Hew Crane's "Cubic Mile of Oil" concept is ignored by starry-eyed Bright Greens who think it's a simple matter of swapping in electricity for "old school" energy. Guess what builds and maintains all of that, dwarfing its scale?
Even worse is the massive desecration of dwindling, scenic open space, with Big Wind being the worst offender. Ski lifts, cellular towers and billboards were protested as spoiling scenery, but today's "environmentalists" cheer on huge wind turbines, nearing 400,000 units around the world, slated for 10X that many in Mark Jacobson's famous scheme.
Why have so…