Travel between the east and west of Australia is made difficult by a lifeless expanse called the Nullarbor Plain. In America, long haul travel is supported by the truck stops, which I understand to be huge complexes involving McDonald’s and sometimes even entire malls. In Australia, it’s a little different. Truckers and travellers are supported by the noble establishments known as chip shops. They sell chips. Sometimes with gravy. And there is always a shaker of chicken salt on a little table next to the door. And if you want some protein in your diet, then you can instead order one of Mrs Mac’s Famous Beef Pies. Make sure to get a little squirty pack of tomato sauce. Many people have claimed certain things as universal Australian experiences and been wrong. Chip shops are the UNIVERSAL Australian icon.

There are chip shops on the Nullarbor Plain, but they’re not connected to an electrical grid. Which means that until recently, you couldn’t drive an electric car from Adelaide to Perth. But you can now. They installed electric car changers. And what powers the chargers? Why, a biodiesel generator that runs on waste oil from the chips.

Everything old is new again.