Electrifying Conversations Conference sparks interest

The inaugural Electrifying Conversations Conference run in conjunction with Big Boys Toys has brought some high profile people to the ASB Showgrounds event in Auckland on November 1.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford turned up briefly with baby Neve in a Hyundai Ioniq but didn’t stay for the conference.

Associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter was expected too but couldn’t attend because of other work commitments, instead sending a video message from Napier congratulating organisers and saying it’s one of the first events of its kind in the world.

Leading lights in the electric vehicle world were among more than 150 people at a packed conference venue, the attendance delighting organiser Dee West of sponsor ChargeNet NZ.

Philippe Vangeel from Belgium led off the conference, explaining the work of his organisation the European Association for Electromobility (AVERE) formed in 1978 in response to the oil shocks of that era. AVERE has networks throughout Europe and works with academics, policy makers and industry to promote electric and other non-oil transport forms.

Vangeel says the top three EV concerns from three to seven years ago have all since gone.

“The high purchase costs, limited driving range and limited charging infrastructure have all changed or are changing,” he says.

New and improved technologies are bringing battery prices down and making EVs more affordable as a result, he adds.

Vangeel says transport in all its forms is becoming “connected, autonomous, shared and electric”, suggesting all sectors should work together on it.

“We all have a high life expectancy now but if we don’t change the world our children won’t have that life expectancy,” he says, referring to climate change particularly.

Tech entrepreneur and Xero founder Rod Drury put a cat among the EV pigeons by suggesting New Zealand would do better to develop hydro power rather than solar or wind power.

Drury says he’s been studying trends since “retiring” and he believes New Zealand is best suited to producing more energy from hydro dams and geothermal resources which he believes are too inefficient.

“We do have a version of Saudi Arabian oil in renewable energy,” he says.

Talking with politicians and others, Drury says New Zealand has the topography for hydro dams and should just get on with building more.

Sergio Baron of Argentina outlined his work with Dynami in designing and developing batteries, saying new battery technology is just a few years away.

He says changes in the battery industry have been rapid and drive the EV evolution, helping produce faster charging vehicles with longer range.

Batteries are expected to have long life too, also being used for energy storage for many years once no longer useful in EVs and then being recycled.

The development of electric air transport was canvassed at the conference, some seeing that as a major transport change with New Zealand suited to electric short haul flights.

Most agreed that it wasn’t always a matter of waiting for the Government to inspire change but just for everyone to work together and get on and do it.