Two new charging stations for Nelson

The Tasman region is celebrating the installation of two new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Electricity distributor Network Tasman has built a charging station in Nelson in the Millers Acre carpark adjacent to the Nelson iSite.

And another station will be opened on Thursday next to the iSite in Takaka.

“We’ve noticed a great deal of interest in the EV stations we’re installing,” Network Tasman chief executive Oliver Kearney says.

“Feedback from current EV owners in the Nelson Tasman area has been very positive and of course new infrastructure like this will encourage EV owners in other parts of the country to bring their vehicles to the region.”

The company’s new ABB Terra 53 units are the same as those being installed by Vector in Auckland and WEL Networks in Hamilton.

“The ABB Terra 53 fast-chargers can fully charge an electric vehicle’s battery in around 20 minutes,” Kearney says.

Network Tasman has added EVs to its own vehicle fleet, with the company also looking at further charging sites depending on demand.

Caption: Nelson mayor Rachel Reese and Network Tasman chief executive Oliver Kearney at the new EV charging site in central Nelson.