Holiday parks boost EV charging

Fifty-four electric vehicle chargers have been installed at 24 holiday parks around the country, encouraging EV use.

They include 14 parks in the North Island and 10 in the South Island offering 22kW AC charging, which provide a relatively fast charge for EVs in lieu of installing expensive DC chargers.

The initiative is a joint project with Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL), which has been creating electric campers towards forming an EV fleet, and has been part funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The chargers provide options for travellers in any electric vehicle, including cars and motorhomes.

“We see this as an important step in providing services for our visitors, whether they be international or domestic,” Holiday Parks New Zealand chief executive Fergus Brown says.

“As the available electric vehicle fleet in New Zealand grows, many Kiwis will be using these vehicles to get away for a holiday,” he says.

“Holiday parks want to be part of a sustainable approach to operating in the tourism industry, and it will be encouraging to see these chargers used.”

Representing over 300 holiday parks and counting 75% of the commercial holiday park sector as members, Holiday Parks New Zealand has signed up to the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment and encourages and educates its members on how they can contribute to sustainable operating practices.