First EVworld South gears up

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

The EVolution has well and truly begun in New Zealand.

Some 10,248 electric vehicles are now registered here, with real progress being made in the South Island.

The Christchurch City Council is heavily involved and is one of the first organisations to adopt the fully-electric Yoogo Share for its fleet.
The city won New Zealand’s “Most EV Friendly Town” at the EVworld Champions’ Awards last year.

So it’s appropriate it should host the first EVworld South conference and expo on November 23 and 24, both from 9am-5pm.

EVworld South is the South Island version of New Zealand’s largest combined EV show successfully held twice in Auckland.
At the last event in August which included 75 exhibitors, more than 4400 people attended and 1000 EV rides were held.

The Christchurch event will also feature electric vehicles in all their forms – including bikes, scooters, cars and even trucks – among more than 60 exhibitors expected.

Visitors can ride or drive an EV and meet the suppliers of EVs and infrastructure.

The show will be held at Wigram’s Airforce Museum, with a trade and fleet day on November 23 and open to the public on November 24.

The expo is free to attend and includes seminars to help answer any questions.

The inaugural event hosted by Conferenz also features the Net Carbon Neutral Towns conference on November 23, highlighting the path toward a zero-emission economy and the role EVs play.

The international keynote speaker at this is Dr Colin Herron from Zero Carbon Futures in the United Kingdom.

Acknowledging the popularity of the EV movement in the South Island, EVworld South will show businesses and residents how they can become involved in the EVolution.

A potential barrier to the cost of shifting a fleet to electric is the upfront investment.
However, EVworld South aims to show that, comparatively, EVs aren’t actually that much more expensive.

Hyundai’s new Kona EV, for example, will be on display at EVworld South, retailing for about $74,000 with a huge 400km range.

Experts say EVs hold their value much better than an internal combustion engine (ICE) car and therefore won’t need to be changed out every three years, as is the traditional fleet ownership model.

Additionally, maintenance costs are much lower for an EV.

The most popular and affordable EV is the Nissan Leaf.

Hayden Johnston from GVI Electric highlighted the importance of going to a reputable dealer and getting the Leaf Spy report before buying one during his talk at August’s EVworld NZ in Auckland.

Many Leafs are on Trade Me Motors, retailing for as low as $9900 for a 2011 model.

A Nissan Leaf will cost about $200 in maintenance annually – much cheaper than an ICE – and will increase in maintenance costs by about $6 per annum.

EVs also have the benefit of showing that any company or organisation adopting them is serious about its commitment to environmental sustainability.

In other words, they are seen to be “clean and green”.

EVworld South’s seminars will feature sessions such as benefits on electrifying a fleet, how to get EECA funding, residual value and total cost of ownership, and car sharing.

Another event being hosted in conjunction with EVworld South is EVolicity’s national finals on November 24, bringing together high school students to race their electric bikes and three or more wheeled EVs designed and built over the year.

It’s the ideal place to showcase the national finals competition, EVolocity executive director Rob McEwen says.

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