Evnex donates EV charger and installation

Kiwi smart charger manufacturer Evnex has donated a full EV charger and installation to Christchurch’s Pathway Trust to help the charity transition to EVs.

Pathway Trust is the first recipient of Evnex’s Charging Our Charities initiative, designed to support the use and uptake of EVs within New Zealand’s charitable sector.

All charities registered in New Zealand can apply to the fund, with one charity receiving a share of $15,000 worth of EV charging hardware and installation services each quarter.

The Pathway Trust provides a wide range of services, including vital wraparound support to those who need a fresh start, and it is creating profound social change by helping to break cycles of poverty, violence, and crime, so the Christchurch community is a stronger and safer place.

Evnex founder Ed Harvey says most charities don’t have the funds to support the wider adoption of EVs – an important step in decarbonising our economy.

“As a local designer, manufacturer, and installer of EV charge points in New Zealand, Evnex has chosen to donate complete end-to-end EV charging systems which we hope will help lower the barrier of entry into the EV space for charities and give back to those who work tirelessly to positively impact our communities,” he says.

Pathway Trust group operations manager Kirsten Billcliff says its work is very travel intensive, with the team travelling to support clients and also to transport them to various vital services, such as drug and alcohol programmes.

“Every cent we spend on fuel is a cent that’s not being spent on our life changing social work,” she says.

“With skyrocketing petrol prices, the cost of doing our work is constantly increasing. We’re extremely excited about the opportunity to upgrade to electric vehicles and having our own on-site EV charger will make this process so much more efficient for our team.”

Billcliff says the trust recently began looking into the cost of replacing its fleet with EVs.

“But as a charitable trust, we are very limited in our funding. We have now made the decision to replace our fleet with electric vehicles, not only for the cost savings for our charity, but also because it aligns with our values around sustainability and the environment,” she explains.

“This process has been greatly sped up by Evnex donating an EV charging package as it was simply something we could not have considered for ourselves otherwise.”

Pathway’s core programmes include the Navigate Initiative, a community-led prison reintegration unit based at Christchurch Men’s Prison, and He Kete Oranga O Te Mana Wāhine, the South Island’s residential drug and alcohol programme for women in the criminal justice system.

“We give people the tools they need to rebuild their life and we’re there for them for as long as we are needed. We never give up on people. Ever,” says Billcliff in thanking Evnex for the opportunity.

Evnex facilitates one of the largest network of smart chargers in New Zealand, with its smart charger technology enabling EV charging that is fast, safe, as financially economical as possible and with low carbon emissions, as well as helping future-proof the demand on the country’s power supply.

The second round of Charge Our Charities has applications now open until June 30.

Click here for more information.