Contact Energy switching 50% of its fleet to electric

Half of Contact Energy’s vehicles will be electric by the end of the year.

And this could extend to 80% where an EV option is available, the company says.

The proportion of electric or hybrid vehicles in the fleet has surpassed the target set in 2016 of 30% by 2019.

Contact Energy’s fleet switch-over plans featured in the EVtalk July 2018 magazine.

“We are proud of the speed we’ve transitioned to EVs, which is part of our commitment to minimise our carbon footprint and contribute to a lower carbon economy,” Contact Energy chief generation and development officer James Kilty says.

Transitioning to modes of transport that run on locally-produced renewable energy should be the next step for businesses and consumers to help achieve New Zealand’s climate change goals, he says.

“Given New Zealand’s electricity generation is largely renewable, EVs are the logical choice for a sustainable mode of transport.

“We want our customers, businesses and the public to take up the challenge of transitioning to EVs to help our country reduce emissions and remove our reliance on fossil fuel.”

Contact is also involved in extending New Zealand’s Electric Highway, which locates 634 charging stations via an app and a website.

The transition to EVs is part of a broader commitment by Contact to decarbonisation and sustainable business practices. This includes targeting renewable energy sources and other innovations like the Green Borrowing Programme, which gives investors the opportunity to invest in certified Green Debt Instruments issued by a New Zealand company.