New Zealand has joined a multi-government forum of the world’s top electric vehicle markets dedicated to accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles.

Membership of the Electric Vehicle Initiative (EVI) will link New Zealand into international best practice around electric vehicles (EVs) including policy, research and information sharing, said Andrew Caseley, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

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[EECA - 30 May 2018]

Auckland police patrolled the downtown area on electric bikes during Queen’s Birthday weekend.

[EVTalk, Geoff Dobson, 5th June 2018]

"Perhaps unsurprisingly, salespeople tended to promote the vehicle that is easier to sell, which outside of Norway, was undoubtedly not an EV."

A recent study published in the journal Nature by a team from Aarhus University in Denmark has found that car dealerships pose a significant barrier to electric vehicle adoption at the point of sale due to a perceived lack of business case viability in relation to gasoline and diesel vehicles.

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POWER OF THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?

Probably not, but meteorologist Edward Lorenz's chaos theory, the Butterfly Effect, has evolved in popular culture to describe the ability of a small action to create a larger effect.

Nowhere in New Zealand was this more evident than in Dunedin last week. This Little But Mighty city hosted a kaleidoscope of EVents during Tech Week—a huge effort by local volunteers and guests. Here’s the roundup.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding car was literally something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

The royal couple drove away in a Jaguar E-Type Zero, a classic 1968 E-Type roadster that has been converted to run on cutting-edge electric power.

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[Stuff Motoring - 21 May 2018]

Last week, James Shaw announced he would like to put a tax on imported petrol vehicles to subsidise and encourage electric vehicles (EVs).

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[Whanganui Chronicle - Opinion - 7th May 2018]

People are getting to know electric cars (EVs) as economical run-abouts, perfect for the average daily commute. Owners can easily zip through 100 kilometres and recharge at home overnight, when cheaper electricity rates mean costs are equivalent to about 30c a litre.

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[Stuff Business - 6th May 2018]

The annual Leading the Charge road trip is over for 2018. Another great adventure was enjoyed by the dozen or so drivers who took in large sections, or all of, the route this year. 

By time we got to the start, ran the course, and took test rides, the total distance traveled was just under 6000km.

Council was keen to support the 'Leading the Charge Road Trip' of Electric Vehicles (EVs) from Bluff to Cape Reinga when it arrived in Whangarei on Tuesday 3 April.

[Fuseworks Media - Voxy - 11 April 2018]

Northland is taking charge of its progression to more environmentally friendly transport options, with a national tour of electric vehicles (EVs) marking the launch of some extra charging stations.

The Better NZ Trust brought its Leading the Charge EV tour through Northland this week, stopping off in locations across the region while on its way to Cape Reinga from Bluff.

The third annual EV promotional convoy of seven cars saw a Tesla Model X, three Tesla Model S’s, a Hyundai Ioniq, Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 all being displayed in towns across NZ.

Starting in Bluff on March 14, it stopped off at Whangarei on Tuesday and touched down in Kerikeri that evening, where a charge station was launched, before landing at the Cape on Wednesday.

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[Christine Allen - Northlanders - 5 April 2018]

The Leading the Charge roadtrip made its way into Hamilton on March 28, so I snuck down from Auckland to see how they were going.

[Rachel Hadfield - EV Talk - 29 Mar 2018]

On Tuesday the Far North's Crimson Coast Electric Vehicle Highway will be officially opened in Kerikeri and there will be a range of electric vehicles (EVs) on hand for the launch.

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[Northland Age - 29th March 2018]

An electric vehicle fast charger is opening in Kaitaia at 11am on Wednesday the 4^th of April. It is one of a number of chargers that are being opened in the far north as part of the Crimson Coast EV Highway.

[Shawn Moodie - ChargeNet NZ - 28 March 2018]

Source: Far North District Council – Release/Statement

Headline: Electric convoy to open Far North Crimson Coast EV Highway

Far North residents have the chance to test drive the latest electric vehicles, including high-performance Teslas, on Tuesday 3 April when the Far North’s Crimson Coast Electric Vehicle Highway is officially opened in Kerikeri.

[Live News - 28th Mar 2018]

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Bayfair Shopping Centre had more electric vehicles than usual on site today when the #LeadingTheCharge road trip came to town.

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[Sunlive - 28th March 2018]

Four luxury Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) and six other electric and hybrid cars coasted into Gisborne yesterday as part of the nationwide Leading the Charge EV road trip.

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[Gisborne Herald - 28th March 2018]

Far North residents have the chance to test drive the latest electric vehicles, including high-performance Teslas, on Tuesday 3 April when the Far North’s Crimson Coast Electric Vehicle Highway is officially opened in Kerikeri. 

Electric vehicles (EV) will gather at the Countdown Kerikeri carpark on Butler Road from 4pm, many of them part of the annual Leading the Charge Road Trip from Bluff to Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga).

[Far North District Council Media Release - 27 Mar 2018]

Whanganui people were queuing in their hundreds to test drive a fleet of electric vehicles on Saturday.

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[Wanganui Chronicle - 26th March 2018]

As the driver of New Zealand's first plug-in taxi, Margaret Baker was an early convert to electric vehicles (EVs). 

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[NZ Herald Travel - 24th March 2018]

Whanganui Film Society presents two films this week — one this Saturday, March 24, which is a special presentation of the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car.

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[Wanganui Chronicle - 23rd March 2018]

A group of eight electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts, driving 5,000 kilometres across New Zealand, will be stopping at iconic Hawke’s Bay locations on Monday 26 March.

The ‘Leading the Charge’ convoy began their journey in Bluff on 14 March and will stop at Havelock North, Te Mata Peak and the Napier Sound Shell.  Their journey ends in Cape Reinga on 3 April.

[Unison - 22 Mar 2018]

Hold onto your (driver's) seats, charging stations for electric cars might finally be coming to Marlborough. 

ChargeNet NZ wants to expand its nationwide network of car chargers into Marlborough, with plans for charging stations in Blenheim, Spring Creek and Havelock.

[EMILY HEYWARD - The Marlborough Express - 22 March 2018]

[Margaret Baker - EV Talk - 22 March 2018]

A convoy of electric vehicles will park up to promote EV technology at the Whanganui Pak'nSave car park on March 24.

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[Wanganui Chronicle - 20th March 2018]

Get a glimpse of what Wellington roads will look like in 10 years this Friday 23 March on Cuba Street when a convoy of electric vehicles park up for the public to see, ride in, and even test drive.

Wellington City Council is hosting the Leading the Charge electric vehicle road trip as it stops in Wellington on its way from Bluff to Cape Reinga.

[FuseWorks Media - Voxy - 20 Mar 2018]

High-profile American electric vehicle advocate Chelsea Sexton says she does not own an EV.

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[Stuff Motoring - 20th March 2018]

When you think of rural schools in New Zealand you probably think a handful of students, and quaint buildings in a picturesque setting – you would be right!

The #LeadingTheCharge team had spent the day before resting in Greymouth and with no public events scheduled along the drive up north to Nelson, the team split up and visited a handful of schools along the way.

[Kathryn Trounson - EV Talk - 26 Mar 2018]