Go-to gurus in the NZ EV world

This story first appeared in the July issue of AutoTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

If you want know about EVs and charging, then Jasmine Roxborough is the go-to guru at YHI (New Zealand), a leading distributor of automotive and energy products to businesses nationwide.

Coming from a background in uninterruptible power supply (UPS), Roxborough started at YHI in Auckland in September 2014 as a UPS sales specialist – rare for a woman – but quickly evolved into an EV charging specialist.

“So, I’ve been here for the whole EV journey.”

Roxborough developed an EV interest while working with EV enthusiast and now YHI Energy divisional manager Aaron Gillon when they shared an office.

About three months after starting, Roxborough says they got stuck into the EV charging side.

“I thought it was really exciting, and so I asked questions constantly and I learnt everything I could about it,” she says.

Roxborough is now sales operations and project manager at YHI Energy and has been instrumental in developing the EV offering at YHI and up-skilling new and existing customers.

Her role is to manage YHI Energy’s marketing team, ensuring the technical side is integrated with their marketing style especially for publications used to cement the brand.

Roxborough is heavily involved in all YHI Energy projects, particularly involving EV charging as well as key project accounts.

She’s interested in how the technology is rapidly evolving and handles nearly all the company’s EV enquiries throughout New Zealand.

“Everything EV comes to me.Whether it’s a national enquiry or people checking they have the right production, solution or message.”

That essentially means everything you want to know about EVs in relation to YHI Energy, just ask Roxborough.

She also holds training sessions for customers so that they and staff understand more about the products, even dispelling “certain myths”.

“I’m looking at it as a huge emerging market – and we need to start now to educate our customers in the way we want to be represented.”

Roxborough says getting the right message out can, at times, involve considerable repetition – but it’s worth it.

YHI distributes products to regional partners and she says if they can provide a customer with a lead on something then it’s of huge value.

“It’s often a two-way thing.”

Roxborough sees herself continuing to absorb as much information as possible to better both YHI and its customers’ position in the market.

When asked, as an example, what Chademo charging means, she responds that it derives from a Japanese saying: “How about a cup of tea”, equating to the time taken to have a cuppa is about the same as a quick top up for an electric vehicle.

She says technology is constantly changing, especially around software, with exciting developments in vehicle connectivity and communications in particular.

“YHI is in a good position to make the most of the EVolution.”

Lorna Harwood manages Harwood Cars in Point Chevalier, Auckland, specialising in electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf.

She saw a future in EVs many years ago after working for 13 years in Dubai selling luxury petrol cars.

Harwood came to New Zealand about five years ago and runs Harwood Cars with husband Martin, who also has extensive experience in the industry.

They sell a wide range of imported Nissan Leafs ranging from Generation 1 models to the latest 40kW battery ones.

“We think EVs are the future,” Harwood says, adding that interest in EVs is increasing.

While an EV might cost a bit more upfront at this stage than an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle – especially if new – Harwood says an EV makes up for that in reduced operating costs.

She says the benefits of an EV include no longer having to pay for petrol or diesel (the equivalent cost of about 30 cents a litre), reduced maintenance and servicing, plus the zero emissions helping the environment, particularly in combatting climate change.

“They’re very cheap to run and you can plug it in at home easily to charge up.”

Overnight charging costs about $3 per 100km.