Electric vehicle owners are gaining in numbers and beginning to appear in groups at public events, after years of being treated like vegetarians at a barbeque.
Electric vehicle costs are so high they remain out of reach for most of us and only make up 0.035 per cent of our total fleet. If government mirrored Norway and introduced incentives to put EVs in the same price category as petrol cars our future would look much greener.
Electric Vehicle (EV) enthusiasts can now charge up at MOTAT while they explore transport technology from the past, present and future.
As part of its expanding network of EV chargers, Vector has installed a standard charger at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). To celebrate its opening and International Drive Electric Week, the Museum has collaborated with The Better NZ Trust to host the largest gathering of electric vehicles New Zealand has ever seen on Sunday 18 September.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges has opened new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Nelson, Thames and Auckland as part of International Drive Electric Week.
The Dunedin City Council and Otago Chamber of Commerce have marked International Drive Electric Week by today launching an electric vehicle charger at the Great King Street car park building.
The Sustainability Trust has unveiled Wellington's first solar-power electric vehicle charger available to the public.
The car charger is free to use, offering two-hour charge slots with two allocated parking spots at the trust's Forresters Lane location; giving electric car owners more freedom to charge their cars while at work.
Waimate has one, Timaru has one and Dunedin has two.
It's time Wanaka had one, too.
That is the view of the Wanaka Electric Vehicle Club pressing for a fast-charging station for the town to encourage more motorists to make the switch from petrol and diesel.
Posted by Kathryn Trounson · September 12, 2016 8:58 PM
A good line up of EVs were on display at the Hobsonville Farmers market on Sunday 11th September 2016 - a Tesla Model S, a BMW i3, 3 Nissan Leafs and Steve West's Tesla Roadster! Under very clear blue skies there were a large range of people who visit this market weekly for fresh produce! Kerikeri oranges, home made preserves and Turkish breads are just some of the produce on offer, as well as many stalls offering tempting food choices for the browsers! Over 130 family groups and couples took advantage of the EV enthusiasts to ask them all those questions that bubble to the surface when confronted with EV technology, and another 60 groups of people took the leaflets for reading later!
Leaflets were well received and the numbers shown there as to how economic EVs are, will hopefully start the 'Are we bold enough to buy an EV' conversations around the dinner table, and lead to more EVs being purchased! The stickers were distributed, and as it was a task given to Daniel and Steph, many children could be seen walking around the market with them on their clothing! We hope that subversively they will get them onto their parents ICE cars!
We will be doing it all again next Sunday 18th September - come on down and see us!!
James Shaw is urging the Government to start building the infrastructure required for electric cars in New Zealand.
"You've got to create the demand, so you actually need people to buy the vehicles otherwise it's very difficult for the infrastructure people to say 'we'll go ahead and build all the infrastructure'," the Green Party co-leader told Paul Henry on Monday.
The Government says electric cars are the future - but it was the traditional Kiwi road block of wandering sheep that briefly delayed a convoy to mark Drive Electric Week.
Meridian's wind farm at Makara, on the edge of the lower North Island, played host to about 12 electric vehicles (EVs) on Monday as part of International Drive Electric Week, which aims to get people talking and thinking about EVs.
Posted by Rachelle Administrator · September 11, 2016 7:35 PM
International Drive Electric Week held a hugely successful event at Matakana Village Farmers Market. Four keen volunteers, including Kathryn Trounson, Chairperson of The Better NZ Trust got up for a 7am chilly start.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges has launched the Government’s electric vehicles information campaign to mark the start of International Drive Electric Week.
The international event has started and runs until 18 September.
The old met the new on Saturday when 21 electric vehicles, ranging from the Nissan Leaf to the Tesla Model S, gathered at Charge Net NZ’s head office. It was an early start for day one of International Drive Electric Week and the drivers were very pleased to be greeted with coffee from Mister Barista.
With a range of 100-130 km most people would consider the Leaf a city car. And sure it is perfect for daily commutes to and from work or people in small towns. But there are many who like to push the limits.
Thames, a town whose history is steeped in gold mining, transport and grass-roots industry, will next week step into a greener future with the opening of its first fast charge electric vehicle station.
Northpower will again be backing International Drive Electric Week when it launches tomorrow.
The company will have an EV on display in Forum North and will be involved in a number of initiatives from September 10-18, beginning at the Whangarei Grower’s market at 7am this Saturday
Posted by James Cozens · September 06, 2016 8:42 PM
The Better NZ Trust are delighted to have been announced as a finalist for the Cadence Communications "Communicating Sustainability" award.
This award is made for "influencing stakeholders and effectively communicating your progress to inspire businesses and people to act differently" and we are proud to be included.
NEW ZEALAND CONSISTENTLY HITTING 90% RENEWABLE OVER LAST 6 MONTHS
As we head towards International Drive Electric Week (September 10th to 18th) one of the questions that is going to be consistently asked will be “Don’t Electric Cars run on fossil fuel produced electricity?”
As EV owners know New Zealand is fortunate to have a large amount of renewable energy at our disposal and we quote 80% as the norm, but in a Transpower release issued yesterday we are told that the peak percentage of renewables has been 90% or higher for EACH MONTH since February and the peak percentage of renewables reached 93% on the week starting 27 June 2016.
“There are very few countries that can boast over 90% renewable generation. New Zealand should feel proud that as a country, we can run such a green power system and have a continued commitment to do so” says Transpower Chief Executive Alison Andrew
The Better NZ Trust are working together with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to promote International Drive Electric Week in New Zealand.
EECA is promoting electric vehicles in New Zealand as part of the Government’s electric vehicles programme; EVs take advantage of New Zealand’s renewable electricity and create 80% fewer CO2 emissions than a petrol or diesel car.
10% GROWTH IN EV REGISTRATIONS IN JULY – BIGGEST GROWTH EVER IN USED 100% ELECTRICS
July saw a further 10% increase in EV registrations to 1663 and the biggest growth EVER in Used Electrics. Looking at listings on Trade Me, talking to dealers and hearing the numbers on the ships, 2000 by the end of September should be easily achievable. International Drive Electric Week (10th to 18th September) should help further accelerate this growth.
In June this year the Better NZ Trust facilitated a visit by EV advocate and industry advisor Chelsea Sexton to present at "The Future Is Electric" Electric Vehicle Symposium. The symposium was co-hosted by Greater Wellington Regional and Wellington City Councils with support from EECA, Carbridge, Wellington Electricity, NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport.
Encouraging figures just released this afternoon by the Ministry of Transport show 194 new EVs on NZ roads, albeit bolstered due to the registration of 90 Loyds Paxsters by NZ Post.
This is the highest number of EVs ever registered in a single month in New Zealand.
We have been travelling around New Zealand with Chelsea Sexton over the last 2 weeks and the news from importers is even more encouraging – Gazley Wellington, Autocourt Dunedin, Volt Vehicles Auckland, NZ Electric Vehicles Christchurch and GVI Auckland all reporting more sales to come and many vehicles on the way to NZ.
SUDIMA CHRISTCHURCH #LEADINGTHE CHARGE – TWO CHARGERS NOW OPEN
Posted onJuly 2, 2016byteam
The Sudima Hotel Group have consistently impressed us with what they have achieved. In 2014 the hotel Sudima Auckland Airport became the first hotel in New Zealand to attain carboNZero certification. In 2015, the Sudima Hotel Group as a whole, comprising five properties in New Zealand and Australia, further demonstrated its progressive credentials by becoming the country’s first accessible hotel group.
Now, in July 2016, the Sudima Christchurch airport adds to those achievements by opening a second J1772 electric vehicle charger and dedicating four premium car parks to electric vehicle charging. Once again, leading the way in Christchurch.
Chelsea Sexton was in Christchurch to officially open the chargers, as well as attend a special screening of “Who Killed the Electric Car”. She cut the ribbon with Martin Chan, Food and Beverage manager.
“Every new charger that opens is an important step in developing the infrastructure that New Zealand needs to help electric vehicle uptake” Chelsea said yesterday “I was delighted to be in Christchurch for the opening of the second charger at the Sudima airport hotel and I understand that the hotel has more plans to develop and promote electric vehicles , which of course I thoroughly endorse “ she added.
We would also like to thank Ifti Hussain, manager of the Sudima Christchurch Airport and Riza Suryo Manager of Sudima Auckland for their ongoing support of The Trust.
A SPARK-LING JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF NEW ZEALAND CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Posted onJuly 1, 2016byDee West
There are around 3500 Spark phoneboxes in New Zealand. Any Kiwi in their 30’s or above, will remember these phone boxes from back in the day when they were Telecom Phone Card boxes. In order to use them, you’d buy colourful and often quirky phone cards that allowed you to call home and ask mum if we could go over to our friend’s house when you were at the mall after school. I felt proper grown up with my phone card in my pocket.
Imagine, for a moment, being at the BEST event/camp you could think of. Surrounded by people that share your interests, intellect, and often sense of humour.
Steve and I standing with my FAVOURITE car from the show, which I found out later belongs to my new friend Brian Kent!
On 6th April 2016, 6 cars met at Cape Reinga, to kick off the annual #leadingthecharge road trip. The aim of the road trip was to talk to as many members of the public as possible as a way of promoting electric vehicle (EV) technology.
For those of you who aren’t aware, my name is Dee West, and I write most of the blogs you’ll see on the Trust Website.
I’ve lived in New Zealand for more than 20 years now, and I started my life here inThamesas an exchange student when I was 16 years old.
Thames is a beautiful, sleepy little gateway town that leads to the Coromandel peninsula. Beach towns, firth towns, excellent food, an eclectic mix of people and communities, and a real sense of connection between local businesses and residents are just the start of what makes Thames a magical place.
What can we possibly say about the amazing people at Z Energy! They are wonderful on so many levels.
Gerri was the very first of a now huge list of people and companies that approached Steve West at Charge Net NZ, interested in bringing the energy future of Electric Vehicle ownership to the New Zealand public.
Z is an Energy company, not a petrol station, and they are working hard to bring a cleaner, brighter, and more socially resilient future to Kiwis. We have huge respect for their community outreach program, and we have enjoyed working with the team in our capacities as Charge Net NZ and the Better NZ Trust.
Opening Z skyways with some of the team at Z, including the truly wonderful Judy Ryan, and Steve West and Chelsea Sexton was a huge honour and a major feather in both the Z and Charge Net NZ caps. The Better NZ Trust wish both amazing companies well as the continue #LeadingTheCharge toward a better future for all of New Zealand.
10% GROWTH IN EV REGISTRATIONS IN JULY – BIGGEST GROWTH EVER IN USED 100% ELECTRICS
