Drive Electric Week launches

A Spring Leaf Rally on September 15 helped launch International Drive Electric Week in New
Zealand.

Twenty-four EVs participated, a Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona, BMW i3 and a few Teslas (including four Model 3s) joining the mainly Leaf convoy from Silverdale to Greenlane in Auckland.

Rally host Michael Young, who hopes for a bigger turnout next time. says the 2020 rally may start in Greenlane and meet others at Silverdale to go to the Puhoi pub for lunch.

EVs were also on the menu at the Whangarei Growers’ Market on September 14 and will be back again on September 21 for more rides and drives.

The two Whangarei events are followed by “tea with an EV” and September 21 includes an EV workshop and panel discussion at the Northland Regional Council supported by the Regional EV Utility Project Northland (REV-UP Northland).

While the international week features more than 300 global events, it’s run in New Zealand by The Better NZ Trust which continues with functions through to September 22.

Among them are an EV display at Auckland’s Catalina Markets in Hobsonville on September 21, the EVolocity Waikato Regional Finals held the same day in Hamilton to find secondary school winners among those designing and making their own two to four-wheel bicycle style EVs to race.

Other Drive Electric Week gatherings include at libraries in Petone and Palmerston North on September 19, and a charger opening at Pak’nSave Petone on September 22.