There was a definite buzz in Wanaka during International Drive Electric Week (IDEW), as electric vehicle enthusiasts took to the streets to promote their beloved vehicles.  

BMW and Charge Net NZ are planning to install 100 fast charge stations across New Zealand.

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[Newshub - 27th September 2016]

 There is a suspicion that the new Paxster Postie EVs will be replacing the regular Postie push bike service. Bicycles are perhaps the ultimate environmentally friendly delivery vehicle, so isn’t this a step backwards?

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has opened new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Nelson, Thames and now New Lynn as part of International Drive Electric Week.

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[Western Leader - 20th September 2016]

International Drive Electric Week hit the capital with a bang last week!  With a total of 7 events ranging from meet and greets to a week long static display, there was something available for everybody to see.

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.

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[Sunlive - 18th September 2016]

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.

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[NZ Herald - 17th September 2016]

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.

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[Press Release - MOTAT - 15th September 2016]

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has opened new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Nelson, Thames and Auckland as part of International Drive Electric Week.

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[Press Release - New Zealand Government - 16th September 2016]

Electric vehicles contestable fund opens today

Transport and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today opened the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund.

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[Press Release - New Zealand Government - 14th September 2016]

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.

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[Press Release - Dunedin City Council - 14th September 2016]

He's the Minister of Energy and Resources, the Minister of Transport, and probably the country's pre-eminent EV devotee.

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[Sunlive - 14th September 2016]

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.

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[Stuff Environment - 14th September 2016]

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.

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[Otago Daily Times - 13th September 2016]

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.

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[Newshub - 12th September 2016]

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has launched the campaign to coincide with International Drive Electric Week, which runs until September 18.

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[TVNZ - 12th September 2016]

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.

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[Stuff Motoring - 12th September 2016]

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.

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[New Zealand Government Press Release - 11th September 2016]

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.

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[Voxy.co.nz - 9th September 2016]

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

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[Northpower Ltd Media Statement - 9th September 2016]

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

10% GROWTH IN EV REGISTRATIONS IN JULY – BIGGEST GROWTH EVER IN USED 100% ELECTRICS

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.

RECORD BREAKING MONTH FOR EV REGISTRATIONS

SUDIMA CHRISTCHURCH #LEADINGTHE CHARGE – TWO CHARGERS NOW OPEN