EVs trialled for Electric Island Waiheke
The Electric Island Waiheke project was launched in late 2018.
At least 75 Waiheke families, businesses and charitable trusts have tested an electric vehicle during the past three months.
That’s encouraged some to buy their own EV, others indicating their next car will be an EV and some people saying they’ll switch when suitable models become available – particularly utes, bigger vans and light commercial vehicle vehicles.
The trials offered by Electric Island Waiheke aim to introduce island residents to the benefits of EVs.
GVI Electric has provided four loan EVs for the trial – two Nissan Leaf cars, and two Nissan e-NV200 vans, one a seven-seater mini-coach and the other a tradies’ van.
Trials continue into December with another 40 people and organisations lined up.
A few slots are available before Christmas and the end of the EV trials for the Nissan Leafs, and particularly the tradies’ van and the seven-seater coach which could interest wineries, taxi operators and tour companies.
Meanwhile, about 104 battery electrics (BEVs) are based on the island, NZ Transport Agency figures show – almost double that for the same time last year. In addition, there are 10 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), two electric petrol-extended hybrids, two petrol electric hybrids and 58 petrol hybrids – the latter not considered EVs as they use a petrol motor to charge their batteries.
Waiheke Island aims to be the first island globally to go completely electric by 2030.
Vector will install and manage more than 80 EV 7.2kW smart chargers in Waiheke homes, 10 public charger and one mobile charger. The island will also get six electric buses in 2020.
Contact Eric Pilling at ericpilling@gmail.com or 021 156 1896 for more information.
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