EVs a focus at driver educator’s conference

EVs will get considerable mention at the New Zealand Institute of Driver Educator’s conference (NZIDE) in Wellington on July 2 and 3.

Transport minister Michael Wood is due to open the 46th annual conference in Kilbirnie, fresh off the back of announcing the Government’s Clean Car package which includes a ”feebate” scheme that rewards low emission vehicle purchases.

Some training providers have already begun developing new instructional and familiarisation material to support fleets as EVs are implemented, one of New Zealand’s leading professional specialists in driver education and transport safety management Peter Sheppard says.

”We also believe the driver educator industry can play a significant role in ensuring driving styles are successfully modified for the correct use of EVs,” says Sheppard who is PCS Transport Consulting director.

“That’s along with promoting phycological climate change seeds into the minds of young drivers as they enter into the world of driving motor vehicles.”

The Ministry of Transport will provide the conference with an update of its Road to Zero pathway through speaker Seb Brown while Retyna Consulting’s Liz Yeaman covers what every driving instructor should know about EVs.

Updates on driver licensing and testing will be provided by speakers from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Vehicle Testing NZ.