Yes, the Better NZ Trust is organising a couple of Road Trips, one on the South Island and one on the North, in early October this year, to coincide with the school holidays and International Drive Electric Week!  Based on the fantastic success of the ‘holiday style’ perambulations we did last year, this year’s trips will be in the same vein – so let’s just get out there to see our country and enjoy experiences as groups of EV owners!

Many suggestions for itineraries have been made, all of which have merit, but in order to keep the organisation clear and concise we are proposing the following: -

In broad outline these are:

North Island – a single route but in three loops (Click for Map)

1. Auckland, Dargaville, Kerikeri, Whangarei and back to Auckland – 2^nd to 5^th October
2. Auckland to Taupo, Napier and back to Taupo – 6^th to 10^th October
3. Taupo to Napier followed by an anti-clockwise swing around East Cape to Whakatane, Tauranga – this will only be possible in cars with over 200 km range – 10^th to 12^th October

South Island

1. Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau, Glenorchy, Wanaka, Cromwell, Naseby and back to Dunedin – 3^rd to 9^th October (Click for Map)

Whilst we did consider outlining ‘feeder’ trips to get people to Auckland or Taupo or Dunedin as the starting points, in the end we determined that it is easier to let everyone do their own thing, and merely tell us they will be at their chosen starting point on the appropriate day!

These trips are designed as ‘holidays’ with no fixed events organised as yet, but last year we found that having a visit to a particular location was very rewarding and provided a focus;  we generally had our evening meal together as well, although there were times when some members peeled off to see family and friends as we passed through places!  These trips are meant to be fun, and include as many travellers as possible. The ability to sometimes engage with the public – for instance when charging – added some extra interest, as we all can talk the hind legs off donkeys about our chosen EV when presented with an inquisitive audience!

We need to try and get some ideas of who would want to do what  - and, by the way, there is no requirement to do a full trip loop – jumping in and out where it suits is perfectly acceptable – once the interest level is gauged then we can put effort into filling out the itineraries.  Schematics of the trips are attached.  We would also be looking for volunteers to help with filling in the itineraries, so please, don’t be shy, let either Martin Kane (for the South Island) or me, Kathryn, (for the North Island) know if you want to do some ringing around for visits we can do whilst tripping!

There is a registration form, click here, that we would request you complete to help us gauge interest.  It is not binding in any way!

**** Please note that drivers of low range cars might need to check whether their chosen route can work – we know that many 24 kW Leafs do not like any more than 4 fast charges per day – although we could assume that the ambient temperatures in early October are not likely to be an issue! (Short Range Car Map)

The automotive world is changing and some commercial entities are quickly recognising the opportunities that this will bring. One of these businesses is Repco New Zealand.

Repco New Zealand is proudly supporting the #LeadingTheCharge 2019 Great EV Road Trip.

"Now in its 5^th season, this is a fantastic annual event for Repco to be part of," says Richelle Ashman, Marketing Manager NZ. "Repco recognises Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a popular choice for New Zealand drivers."

Repco has been providing New Zealanders with what they need to get their vehicle road ready for over 95 years. Repco leads the charge in the automotive parts aftermarket, which makes Repco a fitting partner to the #LeadingTheCharge 2019 Great EV Road Trip.

If you are coming along to a Leading The Charge event in Dunedin, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Auckland and Whangarei, be sure to pick up a Repco voucher to save on your next purchase at you nearest Repco store.

I used my voucher to buy seat covers for my BMW. Thanks Repco.

Good infrastructure is seen as essential to the promotion of EV sales and use in NZ. 

image PAUL SHERLEY/BMW NZ

[David Linklater - Stuff - 30 Jan 2019]

The latest round of the Government's Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund has once again thrown the spotlight on New Zealand's charging infrastructure.

The fund, which provides up to $7 million per year to contribute up to half of project costs to promote the uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs), named Ngai Tahu Tourism as one of its recipients.

Partnering with ChargeNet, Ngai Tahu will install DC fast chargers at key tourist spots including Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown and Glenorchy.

Sylvia Wilson drove around Australia in an electric car. It cost her $150.90.

Wilson, 70, a retired farmer from near Biloela in central Queensland, had planned the trip of a lifetime with her husband, Rod. One impulsive evening in mid-2016 they went online and, sight-unseen, bought a Tesla S75 electric car for the journey.

A few months after Rod died last year, Sylvia announced to her family: “I think I’ll do that trip.

“Most of them were really keen. A couple of them said ‘you’re mad, you’ll never do it’,” Wilson told Guardian Australia.

[The Guardian - 11 Sept 2018]

A convoy of electric vehicles (EVs) are buzzing into Lower Hutt this month as part of the #LeadingTheCharge country wide road trip.

The exhibition will arrive at Dowse square on Thursday 22 March after having travelled roughly half of their journey from Bluff to Cape Reinga.

Aimed at promoting electric vehicles the silent convoy of BMW i3, Hyundai IONIQ, Nissan Leaf and Tesla will allow Hutt City residents and CBD businesses to see a range of EVs, chat to drivers and even take the wheel for that important ‘test drive’.

[Press Release - Hutt City Council - 18 June 2018]

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.

Read Full Article

[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.

See full article

[Northland Age - 29th March 2018]