Electric Village opens in Gisborne

A newly opened Electric Village in Gisborne is already proving an attraction.

Regional infrastructure company Eastland Group developed the Electric Village initiative, and has committed to ensuring at least 75% of its own non-commercial vehicle fleet is electric by 2019.

“Electric Village is our opportunity to talk to the community and find out their vision for the future, as well as share information on solar generation, batteries, electric bikes and cars and other potentially game-changing developments,” group chief executive Matt Todd says.

He believes EVs will transform transport in Tairawhiti (the Maori name for the Gisborne district) and elsewhere.

Electric Village is a one-stop-shop for advice, exhibitions and discussions about the future of energy.

The community-focused energy hub has an “energy champion” in Katherine Evett who draws parallels with Gisborne’s early EV efforts. These included the town becoming the first in the Southern Hemisphere to introduce battery-driven electric trams in 1913 after a former mayor brought an EV back from a 1910 trip to the USA.

“Over 100 years ago there was an EV running around the streets of Gisborne,” Evett says. “Clearly, we have always been a town of early adopters.”

More is being done around EV infrastructure there.

Eastland Group recently received $251,000 from the government towards the installation of a fast charging EV network that will connect the region to the rest of New Zealand. Three 50kW fast charging units will be installed at Wairoa, Putorino/Kotemaori and inland at Matawai, along with three 25kW units at Tolaga Bay, Te Araroa, and Morere.

Meanwhile, people can sign up to Flick Electric and charge their EVs at the Electric Village.

It’s open Monday to Friday at 37 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, 9am-4pm.

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