Blue Cars provides EV services

This story first appeared in the August issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

It’s easy to spot the Blue Cars premises in Auckland.

A number of Nissan Leafs parked around the outside of the Avondale firm are the giveaway.

Blue Cars was founded by EV advocate and electrics wizard Carl Barlev, who includes Tesla in an impressive portfolio of work experience.

Barlev says he started Blue Cars to help Kiwis make the switch to electric mobility.

While he still works in the electrical industry, Barlev is also involved in The Better NZ Trust, which he helped found with others such as Steve West.
He was a former general manager for Drive Electric and has worked for a number of major companies in the electrical engineering field.
He’s even driven in an electric marathon rally.

With the help of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) grant, Blue Cars investigated how EV batteries could be reinvigorated.

Bill Alexander from Blue Cars led the project which learned EV battery cells could be replaced and rebalanced to provide more mileage for used imported EVs like the Nissan Leaf.

The project had some help from another electrical expert, Niall Darwin, who is involved in a dispute with Tesla over a written-off Model S he had repaired and brought into New Zealand from Australia.

Alexander says they found EV battery modules could have cells replaced or rebalanced to give an EV a longer life, particularly as they were unable to obtain new batteries.

It’s part of three core work areas for Blues cars, which also replaces old batteries with better used batteries from wrecked cars – as far as availability allows.

Blue Cars is also building new batteries or refurbishing old batteries with new cells and is in the process of working out next stage development, possibly at a commercial level.

“Some EV owners have unrealistic expectations of what their EV batteries will cost, like $2000-$3000 – I don’t think they realise,” Alexander says.
“It’s more like $20,000 to $30,000 in many cases.
”
He says rebalancing batteries helps keep some EVs going for many more years before the batteries need replacing.

Alexander says they often get a car in every day to work on, some from dealerships preparing cars for sale.

Blue Cars has mainly Generation 2 Nissan Leaf 24kWh cars for sale as well.
EV parts are sold regularly too.
“People might want their seats changed if they’ve been damaged in their EV.
”
The company was started about three years ago, and Alexander has been working there for about two years after starting out as an agribusiness engineer working for the former DSIR.
He’s interested in “alternative energy” and has been involved in energy projects like wind power.

A keen motorcycle rider, Alexander is also enjoying another aspect of Blue Cars’ business.

It’s become the agent for Fonzarelli electric motorbikes and scooters.
These have a range anywhere around 50km to 100km, depending on the battery size and type of bike.

Alexander says he became interested in the brand after he spotted one at a testing station.

He says the Fonzarelli fits with Blue Cars’ business ethic.

Blue Cars is meanwhile aiming for more funding, possibly through crowd sourcing and other avenues, to work on further EV battery development.

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