Automotive workshops get EV courtesy cars

Electric courtesy cars have begun arriving at the first of 25 automotive workshops around the country.

Sonter Automotive in Christchurch is among the early recipients, along with Papamoa Automotive Service Centre in Tauranga and Goodhue Automotive in Hamilton.

EVincible was provided with $263,450 for the courtesy cars in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) low emission vehicles contestable fund third round.

The EV consulting and project manager services company is coordinating the roll-out of battery electric courtesy cars and associated charging stations.

The cars are mainly Nissan Leafs, EVincible’s Mark Nixon says.

The project gives workshop customers a chance to test drive an EV. It also enables the workshops to increase their familiarity with EVs and develop EV servicing skills through training modules developed by co-applicant AECS Ltd for upskilling automotive workshop technicians.

AECS has the first EV training seminar in Auckland starting April 9. Ten more seminars are planned around the country in 2018, some in conjunction with the MTA.
Meanwhile, fourth round EECA fund applications close at 8am on April 11.

Visit eeca.govt.nz and aecs.net for more information.