Welcome to the EVs and Beyond July magazine
Welcome to a feast of EV related reading.
The food theme starts with New Zealand’s first heavy electric refrigerated truck rolling out for Foodstuffs which already set a benchmark with electric delivery vans.
And speaking of heavy EVs, we check out the electric buses to service the Auckland Airport run and plans to bring more e-buses to New Zealand and Australia.
Further south there’s talk the coming closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter might provide a bigger, better and cheaper menu for EVs – in more ways than one.
EV entrepreneur Nigel Broomhall is seeking Facebook likes on an idea to pitch a case to Tesla for a “Gigafactory South” there.
A lot more electricity will certainly become available after Tiwai’s closure in August next year, which could be a meal for EVs – especially if brought north.
And if you raise your eyes to the heavens regarding Tiwai you just might see an electric aircraft overhead.
Canterbury is already trialling one which may produce a world first.
We preview the likely range of e-aircraft and the coming eVTOL phenomenon where you could travel in and out of the city via pilotless electric transport. It would certainly revolutionise the way we move about.
Auckland City Electric Vehicles is meanwhile meeting the appetite for EVs on the ground.
Ford has plans in the electrification area too, and Harley-Davidson’s electric LiveWire is ready to order.
Electric bikes continue to gain in popularity, but one e-bike dealer is worried pathways for them could be a casualty in Auckland’s post COVID emergency budget.
E-mobility is a key topic in an ITSNZ Young Transport Professionals latest webinar, which also announced plans to form a committee to increase youth and diversity within the New Zealand transport agenda and sector.
Mercury and EECA are embarking on campaigns – Mercury renewing its ‘Kiss Oil Goodbye’ after the COVID interruption, and EECA explaining its Gen Less climate friendly living push.
EV sales are picking up with a strong June showing extending into July. Check out more about that and see what EV dealers think in our latest stats.
So why aren’t the various parties contesting the September general election setting out policies to encourage EV uptake?
The Green Party is presenting a Clean Energy Plan piecemeal – short of EV substance so far – but what about the rest?
There’s a stack more for your digestion in the latest EVs and Beyond magazine.
Join the conversation (1)
I think it is about time we ditched the second hand vehicle importation as there are far too many on the road as it is. It is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate narrow suburban streets with cars parked on both sides, leaving essentially a single lane for both directions. Furthermore, our motorways are jam packed solid which affects commuters and especially critical essential services such as Fire, Ambulance, Police, etc.
I do believe in vehicle electrification, which would nullify air pollution from exhaust fumes, so if second hand imports continue, then STOP petrol and diesel vehicles.