EV champions named

Joe Camuso of Whangarei is the 2019 EVworld NZ Champion of the Year.

A Vision Whangarei founder, Camuso doesn’t miss a chance to promote EVs, the EVworld NZ Champions Awards ceremony at the EVworld expo in the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland heard.

In accepting the award, Camuso says all 15 nominations for the award should have been up on stage.

Starting in 1998 while working in Miami for Florida Power and Light, Camuso says they had three EVs then but these leased cars were later removed and crushed in a story made famous by the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?

“I thought that in five years everyone would have an EV,” he says.

Camuso says he’s done what he can to promote EVs and uptake ever since.

Other award recipients were EV City for the EV Sales and Service award, accepted by owner Dave Boot and wife Renata. Boot says the award is for his wife, dad Ran, and EV City staff. “We have some real EV champions among us,” he adds.

NZ Post received the Fleet Champion of the Year award, Sam Bridgman and Rose Scott accepting the honour of behalf of the company.

Christchurch City Council gained the Most EV Friendly Town award, accepted by council resource efficiency manager Kevin Crutchley.