One charger launches as another proves its worth

Lines-company Vector has opened its latest electric vehicle charger in the west of Auckland.

The new dual-port standard charger has been installed in the carport of the new NorthWest Shopping Centre.

The station is the fourth for Vector – others are found in Newmarket, Britomart and Hobson Street – with more to come.

Meanwhile, the chargers installed at the Sylvia Park shopping centre are proving their worth – and reportedly changing shopping habits.

The two stations have had an estimated 670 uses since being made available to shoppers in October 2014.

“We’ve had requests from our customers for even more stations to be installed in the future as a result of strong demand, with both stations often in use with someone waiting,” mall-owner Kiwi Property’s national facilities manager Jason Happy says.

“We’ve had a number of customers comment that they have switched shopping to Sylvia Park from other centres because of the availability of our charging stations.

“For us, we’re meeting our objective of delivering sustainable business practices while also being able to offer our customers more from their retail experience.”

The mall also carries New Zealand’s largest solar array.

In just over 12 months, Kiwi Property’s installation – which comprises 1,134 panels covering 3,000 sqm (equivalent to 12 tennis courts) – has produced enough energy to supply 62 homes for a year.