NZ’s electric future laid bare in Wellington

A sold-out symposium in Wellington next week will see international electric vehicle experts examining how battery power will shape the country’s future.

Local transport operators will get the good oil from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Norway on what can be done to accelerate the uptake of electric cars, bikes, buses and trucks here.

The Future is Electric (www.futureiselectric.co.nz

) is hosted by the regional and city councils next Monday.

Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Chris Laidlaw says his organisation is committed to turning its bus fleet all-electric and is looking to help Wellington become the leader in New Zealand’s EV uptake.

“Electric vehicles will reduce carbon emissions, improve our air quality, make our roads quieter, reduce our reliance on imported fuel and help combat global warming,” says Laidlaw.

“Electric vehicle technology continues to improve very quickly and is becoming mainstream in countries and provinces with similar renewable electricity sources and populations to New Zealand.

“There is strong interest within the transport sector, with many keen to see infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable for private, public and commercial transport.

“This event is part of a regional conversation to map out a pathway for an electric future, and we will be looking to the government for more tangible incentives to help kick start the process.”

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the council is looking to increase the number of charging stations in the area.

“While many people can charge at home or office, visitors and those with long journeys need additional charging points,” she says. “And as Wellington is a windy city, e-bikes offer a much easier cycling experience

“Climate change is a huge challenge. Wellington and New Zealand has significant renewable electricity, so electric vehicles will cut greenhouse gas emissions radically.”

The government has set a national target for adopting 64,000 electric vehicles by 2021. Currently there are around 1200 electric cars in New Zealand, with 150 of them in Wellington region.