Leading the Charge – Christchurch to Greymouth

After spending the day in Christchurch it was good to explore the beautiful countryside on the road to Greymouth.

While I had visited Christchurch a few times before, I’d never been to the West Coast – let alone driven there – so I didn’t really know what to expect.

Driving the West’s Tesla Model S, “NILGAS”, which was adorned with the ‘Electric Avenue’ branding I was greeted by the now all too familiar stares from impressed motorists and passersby that see a Tesla for the first time.

While it is somewhat distracting at first, I was heartened by the lure that electric cars still hold over many Kiwis, and this was compounded by a surprisingly large number of Nissan Leafs I spotted heading out of town.

The #LeadingTheCharge team were a little dispersed so had made a plan to regroup at Arthur’s Pass for breakfast and a photo opportunity.

The drive there absolutely blew me away. The car, a P85+, was an absolute joy to drive, handling the winding roads with ease. While the environmental benefits of EVs are obvious to all, the stunning performance of the cars – the torque, the handling, the smooth ride – needs to be another selling point that we use when talking to the ‘yet-to-be-converted’.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention how lucky we are to be living in this beautiful country. The drive to Greymouth is one of the most breath-taking that I have ever done, an invigorating drive that I could not recommend more highly. After taking some photos at Arthur’s Pass and the Otira Valley Gorge we made our way into Greymouth.

While parked up at the ChargeNet station there I was immediately greeted by a handful of intrigued locals. The first couple I talked to were seriously considering the Model X as their primary family car. As a growing family with young children they were won over by its impressive safety features.

Another couple couldn’t get enough of James Williams’ Hyundai Ioniq. They’d read about the various honours that had been bestowed on it and, after spotting it in town, were keen to give it a look themselves.

The next day we were blessed with perfect weather in Greymouth for the event itself and more than one of the #LTC team was spotted hiding under the massive doors of the Model X for shade. The day, though quieter than Christchurch, provided us with an opportunity to share our love of EVs with a number of genuinely receptive locals.

It’s these sorts of interactions that give me hope. Those of us already driving EVs know that we’re driving the future, but it’s great to see that the rest of New Zealand is quickly catching on too!

By Shawn Moodie