ChargeNet marks 10 years as public EV charging goes mainstream

ChargeNet, New Zealand’s largest public EV charging provider, has turned 10, marking the milestone with a network that now spans about 520 charging points from Bluff to Cape Reinga and more than three million charging sessions since launch.

Founded by Dee and Steve West in 2015 “as an ambitious technology start-up”, the company says it has helped move electrified transport “from a radical idea to the mainstream future of travel”. In late 2024, Genesis Energy took a majority stake as part of its electrification strategy.

Chief executive Danusia Wypych says uptake is accelerating as more models and sharper pricing come to market and as business fleets plug in.

“From a decade ago when ChargeNet’s founders imported the country’s first Tesla, there are now more than 125,000 battery electric and plug in hybrids on our roads, and this number is growing fast.

“In under a decade, EVs have gone from niche to entirely mainstream and we are now seeing business fleets, commercial customers, and trades businesses signing up to use our public EV charging network.

“When fleet orders are being booked in the hundreds, you know the future is arriving,” she says.

Wypych says the second-hand EV market is strengthening and electric trades vans are beginning to reshape the light-commercial sector.

“Over ChargeNet’s decade of operation we’ve seen the inevitable shifts in the market and policy changes but the fundamentals all support continued electrification.

“There’s now multiple EV ute options, EV vans, China is emerging as an innovative, lower cost EV importer, and government remains committed to partnering with industry on EV infrastructure,” she adds.

“ChargeNet’s own polling shows almost 25 per cent of Kiwis already own or are considering buying an EV in the next three years, and this is during a period of sustained economic challenges. As the economics of EV ownership steadily improve, we are forecasting strong year-on-year growth in EV ownership and demand for public charging.”

The first ChargeNet fast charger was installed at Four Square Kaiwaka, and the company says it is recording around 40% year-on-year growth in public charging.

“We have a world-class network of vehicle providers and site partners making charging ultra convenient for EV owners,” Wypych says.

Looking back on the decade, Wypych thanked customers and partners and pointed to the cost advantages for drivers.

“Running an EV, you usually charge at home is like driving around for $1.90/l of fuel (including RUCs). A shout out to all our customers who are on the journey with us. Whether you are charging with us week in week out at the supermarket or when you’re on the summer roadie, it’s always good to see you again.

“While, thanks to the courage and vision of its founders, ChargeNet has delivered a 10-year track record of investing in transport electrification, we’re just at the start of the transformation of New Zealand’s transport sector. The pace of EV innovation is accelerating; consumers want to go electric and the economics of doing so are compelling.

“We’re perfectly positioned to lead the next decade of electrification and are excited about helping deliver the benefits of EV ownership for consumers, for the economy and for the climate.”

Since September 2015, ChargeNet says it has delivered 40.5 million kWh of charging — enabling 202 million kilometres of EV driving — and avoided an estimated 31,000 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 567,000 native trees planted to absorb carbon for 20 years.