The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Cheaper, cleaner, better. That's a mantra we often use to explain the benefits of electric machines at Rewiring and it's something Christchurch company E-Stroke can also claim with its electric boat conversions.
Jeff and Michael Smit are keen boaties and waterskiers (and also cousins) and, as Jeff says, it all started when they were holidaying at Glendhu Bay one summer. They realised they were spending over $100 a day on fuel when they were out on the water. The new electric boats were out of their league, so they decided to see if it was possible to do something better themselves. That turned into a business that aimed to electrify existing boats affordably.
Using old Nissan Leaf motors and Halb battery packs, they developed a trial boat (with the help of a grant from EECA) that cost just over $10 for a day of electrons. And that came without the noise or the fumes and all of the performance of petrol.
Just like driving, Michael says many boaties don't actually know how long they run their boats for on a day out, but the 40kWH battery can run at full bore for around 40 minutes. Generally, Jeff says waterskiing boats are running on power about 25% of the time and the rest of the time it's idling.
Just like on the roads, range is also a common concern, but during a recent 'business trip' down south, the boat was able to go from Glendhu Bay to Wānaka and back with a full load and it still had 30% left in the battery.
Bigger battery packs that can fit in a smaller space - which they are developing for the next iteration - will allow the boats to run for longer and it is also developing an electric outboard.
Going electric has given their old family boat from the 1970s a new lease on life - and there are plenty of other boats around the country of a similar age that have the potential to be electrified.
Plus, if you're trying to find a justification for that electric retrofit, Jeff says boats generally sit outside in one place for most of the year, unlike cars, and that makes them a much better option when it comes to two-way charging. We'll call that T2G, or toy-to-grid.
'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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