Electrifying Conversations spark up EV discussions

This story first appeared in the October issue of EvTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The first Electrifying Conversations Conference on November 1 is sure to fire up talk around EVs and sustainable transport.

Stemming from Dee West’s new podcast of the same name with its wider sustainability focus, Electrifying Conversations coincides with Big Boys Toys’ Electric Avenue EV exhibition at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland’s Greenlane.

Electric Conversations will cover the whole picture of sustainability and energy independence in New Zealand, as well as new zero-emission technology advances from around the world.

Keynote speakers include Philippe Vangeel, the European Association for Electromobililty (AVERE) secretary general talking about the European EV market and transportation switch, electric motorcycle land speed record setter Eva Hakansson, Kiwi tech entrepreneur and Xero founder Rod Drury, and electrical engineer and Dynami chief executive officer Sergio Baron discussing battery technology.

The keynote sessions will be combined with interactive panel discussions featuring sector experts focusing on developments within the transport, energy, software, tourism, charging infrastructure and EV hardware sectors.

“We aim to make these interesting and interactive, so don’t expect death by PowerPoint,” West says.

The Electrifying Conversations Conference aims to become an annual fixture, providing a platform for New Zealand to celebrate advances within zero emission technology, helping the country become a world leader in clean transportation with its nearly 85% renewable electricity generation.

Following immediately on from the conference, a convoy of about 20 EVs will hit the road with invited guests covering more than 1000km from November 3-8.

About 50 people are expected on the road trip from Auckland to Wellington, including stops along the way for EV rides and drives, a journey down the Forgotten Highway and more.

The road trip will be recorded by a documentary team, including a drone operator, and footage will be available in the package for paying participants.

West expects next year’s road trip will be in the South Island.

She says the goal of the whole Electrifying Conversations venture is put New Zealand firmly on the world EV map.

“We’re singing our own praises with more than 17,000 EVs on our roads and the collaboration and innovation available here.”

West says it’s important people realise the sustainability zero emissions transport can provide.

She points to an average-sized electric car removing 1kg of emissions for every 6km driven, with reports that more than five million EVs globally are expected to balloon to 23 million within about 10 years.

The first Electrifying Conversations event will be sponsored by ChargeNet NZ, the company recently opening more than 10 EV chargers including Manukau (50kW), Silverstream (25kW), Greenmeadows (25kW) Tirau (two 50kW chargers), Dunedin (50kW), Tekapo (25kW), Petone 25kW), Karori (25kW), and Wellington Zoo (two 25kW chargers).

Contact Hayley Davey at hayley@electrifyingconversations.co.nz, phone +64 (0) 21 757 967 or visit www.electrifyingconversations.co.nz for tickets and further information.