EV charging at Epsom Donor Centre

Two free EV charging stations with a total four charging ports are provided for donors at the New Zealand Blood Service’s Epsom Donor Centre in Auckland.

The service’s new Epsom donor floor on the centre’s level one is operational from August 10 and donors can leave their EVs charging for free while there.

Instructions are on the charging stations, and spare cables covering most EVs in the New Zealand market are available at level one reception.

Meridian Energy provided a co-funding allocation for the two units, NZBS paying the balance of costs, NZBS national procurement manager Andrew Szymanik says.

NZBS gets about 150 donors through its doors daily at 71 Great South Road and is on a major arterial route with high-density traffic flows.

As a Crown entity, NZBS is party to the New Zealand Government’s Sustainable Procurement Initiatives and required to consider climate change, ozone depleting chemical eradication and natural resource use optimisation.

“Subsequently, we have decided to purchase low emission fleet vehicles where practical, and are keen to further test the waters by leasing our first electric passenger vehicles for metro driving and providing charging stations for our donors’ use,” the service says.

NZBS says it’s keen to support donors, as they actively contribute to enhancing and saving the lives of fellow New Zealanders, by providing charging stations and contributing to a more sustainable future.