EVWorld NZ success shows EV interest

This story first appeared in the August issue of EvTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

More than 4300 people swarmed to the EVWorld NZ expo and conference in Auckland on August 1-3, especially for the public open day at the ASB Showgrounds on the last day.

A variety of new electric vehicle related products were launched or appeared at some of the more than 80 show exhibits.

These included a solar panel roofed carport from YHI, new EV charging solutions from the likes of ABB and Evnex, Audi’s e-tron electric car, Fuso’s new eCanter electric truck and Hyundai’s Nexo hydrogen fuel cell car.

More is promised for next year’s show with Volkswagen due to have its ID electric range out by then and offerings coming from other manufacturers and exhibitors.

Show organiser Conferenz’s Dominic Duncan is delighted with EVworld’s success.

A plethora of electric bikes, e-scooters and other mobility devices were displayed and tried out on test tracks at the show, while queues formed to try out the virtual reality ride in Mercury’s converted 1957 Ford Fairlane ‘Evie’.

Free seminars available to the public and the trade included the benefits of vehicle electrification such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, future fuels such as hydrogen, truck conversions like those using SEA Electric’s truck drivetrains, EV charging infrastructure and e-mobility.

An industry conference ran over the show’s first two days with New Zealand’s proposed ‘clean car’ fuel emission standards and feebate scheme discussed and lessons shared from similar schemes overseas.

International speakers pointed to New Zealand’s innovation and will to test and trial new transport forms from ferries to aircraft.

A motor industry panel heard that EVs are getting cheaper and more prevalent in a variety of forms, with electric utes and heavy vehicles due in numbers. Plus forms of mobility as a service (MaaS) from e-scooters to public transport were discussed, the idea of one payment form considered for all.