How far will a clean, green RV manufacturer 4wd to prove his point? More than 6000 km and counting, from the Alps to the Strzelecki desert

Jay King extolling the virtues of his clean, green Duoetto 12V/240V water heater to anyone who will care to listen. The globally exported electric water heater, which helps to protect fragile environments, such as the recently filled Menindee lakes and Darling River system, which he visited in a RV he converted himself. Such environments – increasingly subjected to higher visitor numbers with the 4wd boom - don’t need more fossil fuel pollution or health hazards, he says.

The manufacturer of a clean, green electric water heater took to the road in a big way recently to extol the environmental protection benefits of his globally exported 12V/240V innovation to a rising generation of campers, boaters and socially conscious adventure travelers.

The Managing Director of Aus J Hot Water Solutions, Jay King, spent 12 days on the road talking up the benefits of his Duoetto water heater to consumers and trade outlets catering to a generation of travelers who want to protect the environment against excessive use of fossil fuels and naked flame in places they may be smelly and hazardous.

“I have been a manufacturer of gas water heaters for many years – so I’m familiar with how good and convenient they can be – but many RV manufacturers can see the broader trend as the electric age arrives,” he says.

“I don’t think some people are aware of just how quickly things are transforming in response to climate change and better batteries. Already the US Winnebago organisation has announced an all-electric zero emission RV with a 200km driving range and interior made from sustainable materials. This is just a start.”

“We know that, with our vast distances, electrification will happen gradually – but it will happen before people think, because we have to move quickly to preserve our natural outback assets,” said Mr King, who took his hapless publicist Brent Whyte along with him as he took to winding alpine roads and jolting outback rutted and unmade tracks to spread the message by showing the product in environments to which it is eminently suited, covering 6300 km over 12 days. These included:

• The enormous Lake Hume, four times bigger than Sydney Harbour, in the foothills of the Victorian Alps and a mecca for boaties and fishermen seeking a cleaner way to shower and enjoy some home comforts on the boat or in the tent or RV.

• Mount Hotham, at about 1860m, the highest peak in Victoria, and a mecca for adventurer travelers visiting the nearby Bogong High Plains.

• Wangaratta, Broken Hill, Ivanhoe, and finally Tibooburra, population about 130 if everyone is home, plus two pubs frequented by tripsters to Cameron’s Corner up in the northwest corner of Outback NSW, where NSW, South Australia and Queensland meet. Even the tough and self-reliant locals thought the electric shower was a good idea, says Jay, while the grey nomads, single women adventurers, and families with pets needed little convincing about having green hot water on tap for showers, cooking and cleaning.

• Over the Tibooburra to Noccundra unsealed road on the SW Queensland edge of the Strzelecki Desert into the Channel country near where the Burke and Wills expedition travelled on their fateful parched journey to the top of Australia, starting 1860.This time King and Whyte enjoyed more temperate times after the recent heavy rain, enjoying the greening countryside and ducks on expansive waters – until jolted back to reality by huge washouts that sent packs in the back of their 4wd flying in the air.

• Then on through dinosaur fossil territory through the Channel Country to Longreach and the Qantas Founders Museum with its public vintage flight simulator (Whyte crashed three times, blaming the rough ride in) and the nearby Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which illustrated the poetry and privations of our tough-as-teak pioneers.

• Then back to base in Sydney via Rockhampton, Bundaberg, the Gold Coast and the Pacific Coast, picking up ideas for new products to try out on distributors and RV manufacturers abounding along this strip.

“We were preaching to the converted in many instances,” said Jay King. “Even the hardest heads in the industry know that electric is going to boom because of its clean, green performance cuts fossil fuel pollution in pristine places and emits no carbon monoxide or other hazardous and flammable gases in confined spaces.

The Duoetto MK2 12V/240V 10-litre water heater from Aus J Hot Water Solutions globally – available to individuals and OEMs through www.ausj.com.au – builds on the local and international success of the first model in enabling people to enjoy civilised home comforts wherever they are on the road or on the water. More than 30,000 Aus J heaters have been sold globally, including to OEMs in Australia, Europe and the USA.

The tough, Australian-designed compact and durable water heater offers selectable temperatures between 30-70 deg C (86-158F) on 240V so people can shower, wash, clean and enjoy abundant hot water whether mains power is available or not and without them having to store and carry additional fossil fuels.

Aus J publicist Brent Whyte wondering what he is doing travelling into The Strzelecki from Tibooburra NSW to Noccundra in Queensland’s Channel country and on to Longreach in a Toyota Hiace 3L 4wd converted for the rough stuff by Jay King. The Strzelecki road was not only full of vicious washouts, but wet too from recent rains welcomed by farmers but cursed by Queensland Outback travelers who got stuck. Jay’s vehicle didn’t.

Automatic sensors allow switching to 12V when mains power is not available, enabling the Duoetto to deliver ample hot water in remote areas such as campsites or on boats.

“The latest Duoetto MK2 is especially suited to caravans, equestrian transport, campervans, yachts, motorhomes and a huge range of recreational vehicles. When you’re on the road or out on the water, readily available hot water is a real luxury,” said Mr King.

Aus J ( www.ausj.com.au ) offers a range of innovative gas and electric water heaters with models for domestic, commercial and recreational applications, including a 240V 10-litre Aqueous water heater designed to provide homes with near-instant hot water and reduce the wastage by having the heater located under the sink.