The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
While the vast majority of EV charging happens at home, reliable public charging infrastructure is essential for those who don't have that option and for those occasional longer trips. ChargeNet, which just celebrated its tenth birthday, has been there from the start and, whether it's the 50kW workhorse of the early days or the 300kW beast of today, the company has helped more New Zealanders drive on locally-made electrons rather than foreign fossil fuel molecules.
The network now spans over 500 charging points across the country and it has logged more than three million charging sessions since it was launched by Steve and Dee West in 2015 (they also imported the country’s first Tesla). CEO Danusia Wypch says the company is expecting strong year-on-year growth as the economics of EVs continues to improve.
Upfront costs of EVs continue to drop, proposed changes to the Road User Charges system mean that EVs will be the cheapest option per kilometre, and promising vehicle-to-grid technology means the big batteries in our cars could soon be another revenue stream and also play an important role in the energy system.
There is also growing interest among business fleets, commercial customers, and trades in EVs and there are now also more options than ever for fast charging, with a number of petrol stations adding it to their offering at main centres (while more fast charging options are positive, we also need more slower public charging options at places where cars are often parked for long periods as they don't require major network upgrades).
While policy changes have impacted demand in New Zealand, the long-term trend is clear, both here and around the world. ChargeNet research shows almost 25 per cent of Kiwis already own or are considering buying an EV in the next three years, so if you're EV curious, the best way to see what it's like - and to dispel some of the misperceptions - is to take one for a spin.
Just try not to have two pies every time you charge up.
'Twas the night before Chris-mas, and all through the house, all the voters were stirring, the pundits showing their nous … the election will soon be over, but the energy crisis won't, so we'll be there to pester whoever is in power about the need to run more of the economy on New Zealand-made energy; can Ethiopia's aggressive push for EVs work and how does New Zealand compare in terms of adoption rates?; a two-way charging trial from Genesis shows promise in Auckland, but there's still a way to go before it's mainstream; small electric vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to electrifying transport, but it's hard to miss this weird French one; a solar-powered cafe (and some electric coffee); and we endorse the political vandalism of Keith of All Trades.
Read moreDownloadPoliticians are being urged to adopt stronger electric vehicle incentives ahead of the election. Climate and energy advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa is arguing that EVs are one of the most effective long-term solutions for rising transport and energy costs. They're promoting an EV Salary Boost proposal, which would allow workers to access EVs through pre-tax salary arrangements – similarly to already existing schemes in the UK and Australia. Policy and Government Relations Spokesperson Ngaio Neumegen told Kerre Woodham that even with the rising cost of power, it's still cheaper to run an EV than a car running on imported fuel.
A proposal that would let New Zealanders lease an electric car using their before-tax pay has not won a commitment from either National or Labour, with the 7 November election days away. Under the EV Salary Boost, put forward by Rewiring Aotearoa and Drive Electric, an employee would lease a new or used EV for three to five years. The payments would come out of their pay before tax, lowering the cost of running the car. The idea is based on Australia’s novated leasing system, though the groups say they are not proposing a direct copy.
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