Drive Electric ups EV advocacy

Electric vehicle advocacy group Drive Electric has been promoting EV uptake in New Zealand on several fronts recently.

It’s bringing Norwegian EV Association secretary general Christina Bu to New Zealand in November for several engagements. She will highlight successful actions that promoted the uptake of EVs, especially fleet business, in her home country.

“Christina is a real authority on electric vehicles and we hope her tour will inspire more fleets and individuals alike to go electric,” Drive Electric chairman Mark Gilbert says.

“Like Norway, New Zealand is the perfect place to run EVs with an abundance of renewable energy; a real intent to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions and the potential to become more energy independent over time.

“Her visit will help highlight how New Zealand can learn from Norway’s example, from both a consumer and governmental point of view.”

Drive Electric is putting a greater strategic focus in areas such as its government advisory role.

“This is a critical move for our organisation which will see us play a bigger part in helping influence central government to create initiatives and remove barriers that encourage electric vehicle uptake,” Gilbert says.

“A targeted membership drive will also help push our policy programme and create opportunities for those members in the EV space.”

That membership drive is already working, with Jaguar Land Rover and Cory’s Electrical signing on.

“Drive Electric is the only organisation that represents all areas of the convergence that is taking place between the electricity and automotive sectors, so has expertise across the sector,” Gilbert says.

Up to six new whitepapers investigating aspects of the EV sector in New Zealand will also be distributed over four events in 2018/19, with the aim of producing positive results for the industry and targeting new ground.

At the recent EVworld NZ EV Champions Awards, Drive Electric sponsored the Best Fleet category won by Foodstuffs for converting its home delivery fleet to EVs.

Foodstuffs sustainability manager Mike Sammons says the award is recognition of a fantastic effort and a well-considered programme to help its stores reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Drive Electric’s public engagement has soared this year, with its website

traffic doubling since April to 500 visits daily. Social media interaction is also

rising. On Facebook, Drive Electric’s page likes reached 1015, while its Linkedin presence has also been set up.

New expertise has also been added to the Drive Electric board, with Custom Fleet NZ country leader Michelle Herlihy, EFU Investments general manager Matthew Bailey and Westpac general manager – procurement Rob Halsall being appointed at the AGM.