New EV Charger Hits Westport
First Published in EV TALK by Sophia Wang on 3 April 2019
From left, Foodstuffs sustainability manager Mike Sammons, New World operator Chris Acklin, ChargeNet NZ chief executive officer Steve West, Buller mayor Garry Howard and BetterNZ Trust chair Kathryn Trounson.
An electric vehicle fast charger was ceremonially opened at New World Westport by Buller district mayor Garry Howard today. ChargeNet NZ, Foodstuffs, EECA and Buller Line collaborated on this charger, which is the same as those installed at Four Square Karamea and New World Hokitika. Several long-range EVs touring the country on the Leading the Charge road trip also attended the ceremony.
Methven gets fast-charger EV station
First published in Ashubrton Guardian by Susan Sandys on 2 April 2019
Matt Harris (left) and Shaneel Singh of EA Networks switch on the new Methven fast-charger station yesterday.
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Trip To Explain What’s Watt
First Published in DriveSouth by David Thomson on Mar 29, 2019
The annual Leading The Charge Great EV Road Trip and electric vehicle information road show hits the lower South Island this week and next, with opportunities to get behind the wheel of an EV in Wanaka, Mosgiel and Dunedin, find out more about these vehicles, and perhaps ride in one as a passenger, at other venues.
Aiming to give independent advice on EV use and ownership, the roadshow started in Rotorua on Thursday and concludes at Cape Reinga in late April, having completed a 5000km loop taking in 30 towns and cities throughout the country.
Along with the test drive opportunities in Wanaka, Mosgiel and Dunedin, the roadshow will be stopping for information sessions at Te Anau, Blackmount, Alexandra, Tekapo and Geraldine.
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Electric vehicle road trip expands
First Published in the Timaru Herald by Greta Yeoman on 28 March 2019
A roadshow of electric vehicles will wheel its way into Geraldine on April 13.
The BetterNZ Trust is bringing its fifth annual #LeadingTheCharge Great EV Road Trip to South Canterbury next month, including stops in Tekapo on April 12 and Geraldine the next day.
It will be the first time the nationwide roadshow has come to Geraldine.
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Delay to EV road trip start
First published in EV TALK 28 March 2019 - Geoff Dobson
Bad weather has delayed the start of The Leading the Charge Great EV Road Trip and has also required one diversion.
The Better NZ Trust event now begins in Taupo on March 30 after rain forced cancellation of the March 28 start in Rotorua.
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Vergne Victorious
SANYA STREET CIRCUIT, CHINA - MARCH 23:
Showdown in Sanya sees Vergne clinch the win on the city's seafront.
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), DS TECHEETAH, (Photo by Alastair Staley / LAT Images)

The DS TECHEETAH team celebrates victory during the Sanya E-prix at Sanya Street Circuit on March 23, 2019 in Sanya Street Circuit, China. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)
NZ Feb - Outlander PHEV Soars Again
EV Sales Doubled Again IN UK
All-Electric Car Sales In UK Doubled Again In February 2019
Demand for pure electric cars is now higher than supply
Positive news comes from the UK where the plug-in car market expanded in February by 36% to 2,104 at a decent 2.6% market share.
Results are quite encouraging in the “quietest month of the year ahead of crucial March plate change”, as plug-in hybrids managed to note small growth. The serious increase was made by all-electric cars, which moved up by more than 100% for the second month in a row.
- 731 BEVs (up 106% year-over-year)
- 1,373 PHEVs (up 15.4% year-over-year)
London Calling
London Wins Right to Host Formula E Next Season
It's Official. While Auckland was twiddling its thumbs on the subject, London has streaked ahead and scored the Series that this year is proving to be so much more popular than it has in the past.
Set to take place around the city's iconic Royal Docks and ExCeL London, the drivers will navigate their way around a one-of-a-kind track indoor/outdoor 2.4km clockwise circuit around Royal Victoria Dock.
Consisting of 23 corners, the track layout will see the drivers run along the Thames waterfront for the season finale double-header of the 2019/20 campaign on July 25 & 26 2020 - subject to circuit homologation and approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Goodbye Dino Juice
Teacher Kirsty White listens to Oli Kirke, 12, talk about his winning story entry.
Timaru 12 Year Old Wins Contest in Protest About Petrol Cars and Bullying
Oli Kirke's protest against petrol cars and bullying has earned him the top prize for his age group in a Department of Conservation writing competition.
The 12-year-old Grantlea Downs School pupil won the age 11-14 category of the summer writing competition hosted by DOC's Arthur's Pass branch, for his short story Goodbye Dino-juice.
The story, set in 2024, follows a 1950s Cadillac named Bailey as he leaks petrol and yearns to stop "destroying this planet". Nople, the latest Tesla Model X, teases him for his "stinky old butt" until he stands up to her - after which she fits him with an electric motor.
Oli said his story was a protest hoped to encourage people to swap their petrol cars for electric, and to put more effort into understanding and helping each other.