'This car can...' Check out our new campaign
The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment opened consultation on a discussion document about amendments to the Electricity Safety Regulations to expand the permitted voltage range for electricity supply. Rewiring Aotearoa's submission believes changes are needed to prepare for the rapid adoption of customer energy resources, and electricity distribution companies need to be compelled to allow export limits to be increased.
Overall, Rewiring Aotearoa welcomes the proposals made in the consultation. It is an important step towards better preparing the Aotearoa NZ’s energy system for the efficient and rapid rollout of customer energy resources (CER) across homes, farms, and businesses.
However, changing the standards does not compel EDBs to amend their existing export limits on CER. The Government (following this consultation) should set an expectation that EDBs move quickly to integrate these updated voltage standards into their export limits. This would effectively double the default export limit for households, encouraging the installation of larger solar systems. These systems would not only help reduce energy costs but also contribute to greater energy security by storing more energy for peak winter demand, thus helping to keep water in hydro dams when it's needed most. A phased approach could delay these benefits, while immediate action will support a faster transition to a more resilient, decentralised energy system.
Some self-inflicted corporate welfare as two big companies put solar on their roof; the trends are revealing and EVs are on the ascendancy right now as people worry about fuel prices and availability; new report shows potential for businesses to save 64% on operational costs by electrifying the fleet, while Ikea shows how to do it in Australia; the Lightship offers a smooth, powerful road trip; when you buy a petrol car you're basically taking out a $20,000 petrol loan; and Robbie Nichol attempts to explain the strange world of New Zealand's electricity market.
Read moreDownloadThere are a lot more New Zealanders looking for EVs right now as concerns about the price and availability of fuel rises. But many of them are new to the scene. Here are some things to consider to ensure you get the right EV for your needs.
Read moreDownloadThere’s a lot of talk about what electric vehicles can’t do and plenty of myths and misperceptions that might stop people from upgrading. But the people who actually own EVs? They’re overwhelmingly sold and recent research showed that 96% of EV owners would buy another one. That's why we're launching 'This Car Can...' We want to tap into that electric enthusiasm and convince more New Zealanders who may be on the fence to start running on cheap local electrons rather than on expensive imported foreign molecules.
EV owners love all the things their cars can do - and they can do a lot of different things these days. So we're asking them to share a story about their EV experience, upload a photo and tell us what their car can do, or send in a video.
We'll add them to the campaign page and we'll use the best ones on socials and in our advocacy to show how lots of different New Zealanders are benefitting from EVs in their lives.
We've also compiled a whole heap of information on why we love EVs - from the savings to the speed off the mark and everything inbetween.
Get in behind!