Masterton - 17 April - Great EV Road Trip
WEDNESDAY, April 17th 2019, 12 – 1 PM
Finally, the #LeadingTheCharge annual road trip will be stopping in Masterton, where special guests will be welcoming us. For one hour, you'll be able to look at their vehicles, take one for a drive and talk about EV ownership with experienced EV Owners.
This will be the 5th Annual Road Trip and will cover some 5,200km+ over 31 days. The Road Trippers will stop daily in different towns to hold events and raise awareness of electric vehicles.
Auckland - 24 April - Great EV Road Trip
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH 2019, 10:30 AM - 2PM
The Road Trip convoy will be stopping in Auckland as it heads on its final legs towards Cape Reinga. This epic journey of over 5,285 km is held annually by #LeadingTheCharge volunteers, whose goal is to promote electric vehicles (EVs) in towns across New Zealand.
Find out why we love electric cars. Get in behind the wheel to feel the power and excitement of instant torque, no vibration, zero tailpipe emissions, and low, low running costs.
We encourage you to take public transport to this event, as the Smales Farm busway is conveniently onsite. 1-hr parking is also available.
While visiting Smales Farm, take advantage of the many restaurants, cafes and bars at The Goodside and Q4.
The EV convoy will be outside the Q4 Pavilion between 10:30 and 2pm. Rides, Drives and Experienced EV Owners and Dealers on hand to answer any EV questions you may have.
Napier - 19 April - Great EV Road Trip
Good Friday 19th April 2019, 12PM to 4PM
The Great EV Road Trip by #LeadingTheCharge will be arriving in the Hawkes Bay on Good Friday 2019. This year, we are holding the event in Napier at Anderson's Park, Taradale.
This EVent will coincide with Season 4 of New Zealand's largest and newest SUSTAINABLE travelling event! The Extravaganza Fair!
We will be found in the main carpark, Kennedy Road, near to the Extravaganza Fair Stalls
- Magic Shows, Musicians, and Performers on the solar-powered stage.
- Family Games, Food, Tarot Readings, Circus and Boho shopping.
- Tiny homes and Electric Vehicles
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2019/the-extravaganza-fair/napier for more information.
ENTRANCE IS FREE
538 Kennedy Rd
Main Carpark
Taradale, Hawkes Bay 4112
New Zealand
Google map and directions
About Us
The Better NZ Trust has been #LeadingTheCharge throughout New Zealand since January 2015.
We work to educate New Zealanders in what can be done at an individual and corporate level to adopt zero carbon renewable energy technology.
“We’ll Give You the Facts, and Let You Decide”
Our current programme is incredibly varied – ranging from visits to schools and arranging local events to working closely with University researchers and relevant Government departments.
The Annual Road Trip is a massive undertaking for the Trust, bringing EVs to many major and minor locations in New Zealand and enables us to raise funds to support our work.
We are a registered charitable trust; registration CC55076.
What We Are Not
- We are politically agnostic. Our volunteers have a broad range of political stances.
- We are not a lobby group
- Nor an owners' association as such
- And we do not sell cars
- We do not, as a whole, favour any particular automobile brand. We will work with, and support, any dealer who is willing to invest time into selling electric vehicles.
We receive funding from both private donations and the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority of NZ.
Our Vision
To create environmental, financial and health benefits for all New Zealanders through education and outreach. We are assisting in the adoption of zero-carbon renewable energy technologies.
Championing sustainable initiatives for a better future for all of New Zealand is at the core of all that we do.
Our Mission
The Better NZ Trust's main focus is the #LeadingTheCharge campaign. As ~20% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas pollution is caused by the transport sector, we believe that transitioning away from fossil-fuelled vehicles into electric vehicles will make a valuable impact on our country's zero-carbon policies.
Concurrently, this transition will benefit NZ's economy by keeping our fuel for transport dollars in New Zealand and conserve the world's valuable fossil fuels for future generations.
Our Volunteers
Our organisation is dependent on our people. Electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts volunteer their time to help us promote the uptake of electric vehicles in the towns and cities of New Zealand.
In each region, we support a Champion amongst the volunteers to rally support from their wider neighbourhood. These people truly are champions as they spend their own time and energy to help. They are also knowledgeable about EV, many of whom have been pioneers in the cultural shift to electric-powered transport. Volunteers can sign up on this website and we will put them in touch with their local champion.
Our Trustees
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Kathryn Trounson |
Sean Dick |
Steve West |
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Carl Barlev |
Sigurd Magnusson |
Major Events
Every year the Better NZ Trust puts on two nationwide events:
International Drive Electric Week
For 9 days in August or September, New Zealand joins the USA and other countries by hosting EV Awareness events in provincial towns and cities.
EV Road Trip
Since the inception of the Better NZ Trust, we have put on an annual road trip from Cape Reinga to Bluff in a convoy of EVs.
Originally, the Road Trip was organised by Trustees Carl Barlev, Steve West and friends. It was a chance to prove that EVs could handle long distances.
Now, we feel that this has well and truly been proven. Charging infrastructure is available throughout New Zealand and thanks to the efforts of infrastructure providers and more choice in vehicles, the annual Road Trip is no longer the pioneering adventure that it once was.
However, it's still a chance for the Trustees and Champions to travel to each region and try to let as many people as possible experience a drive, or at least a ride in the future of automotive transport.
Sponsors
The most valuable resources for #LeadingTheCharge are the owner-drivers and enthusiasts who make this community work. There are too many to list individually but you will see their names on various pages as ticker tape.
But we also are indebted to the various companies and organisations for donating services or money to help operate the Trust.
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Thank you so much for your support, we are excited to continue our work and to meet more people who are as excited as we are about a Better NZ for all of us.
Introducing Our Newest Champions
What is a #LeadingTheCharge Champion
The EV community in NZ is a passionate collection of people who want to share their EV enthusiasm with the rest of the world.
They live with the benefits and enjoyment that comes from owning an EV and as good Evangelists want to let other people experience that enjoyment too! These people often join #LeadingTheCharge as volunteer members, as a way of cohesively promoting EV in a big way, rather than lots of individuals doing their own thing.
The “Better NZ Trust” has members living up and down the country, but in each region there is a stand-out local Champion (or two) who either regularly puts their hand up to organise EV events in their area under the Trust umbrella, or supports the Better NZ Trust in some other substantial way. Our Champions are early adopters of EV (many were pioneers) and give a huge amount of their time and care to Champion the Cause of EV through education, displays, events, etc.
And by using the Better NZ Trust umbrella, they can access our collateral, financial support, advice and wider audience. The Trust, in turn, receives its support under its EECA mandate and from its generous sponsors. The Trust was set up by the original EV Champions in NZ, and the current Trustees continue to volunteer their time.
Read more
Evolocity Electric Wheels Festival Coming to Hamilton
Don't miss Hamilton's first-ever electrically charged Festival – celebrating the acceleration into our lives of E-vehicles!
Held in partnership with the Waikato Engineering Careers Association and Waikato EV Owners, the EVolocity Electric Wheels Festival, is coming to Kartsport Track, opposite the airport, Saturday, September 29.
The festival includes the Waikato regional finals of EVolocity, the electric vehicle secondary schools competition. Executive Director Rob McEwen says EVolocity Waikato has thirty-nine teams competing from 21 Waikato schools this year, more than any other region in New Zealand. "But, it's not just the number of schools and teams, it's the Waikato attitude and determination which sets them apart from the rest."
Read more
Busting EV Myths Part 6
Read the 6th part of our series "Busting EV Myths" by clicking this link here
Topics Covered:
Myth: Batteries Have Short Life Spans
Myth: Batteries Can Not Be Recycled
Myth: Lithium is Rare
Busting EV Myths Part 1
It's hard to counter all the misinformation that exists about EVs in just a few sentences. Especially where the topic is quite involved. The Better NZ Trust has produced this series of informal, simplified infographics to give #LeadingTheCharge volunteers talking points. Please share.
In Part One we Bust the following Myths:
Myth: "EV's Can't Tow"
Myth: "They're Too Expensive"
Myth: "They're Just A Fad"