Infrastructure company invests in EVs and hybrids

The Gisborne-based Eastland Group has committed to using more environmentally friendly vehicles, with 75% of its non-commercial fleet set to be electric by 2019.

Chief executive Matt Todd says the company already owns five electric or hybrid vehicles, has three more EVs on order and will significantly increase that as a part of its fleet replacement programme.

“We’ll look at the business need and see if we can find an electric vehicle to suit. If more range is required, we will buy a hybrid fuel/electric vehicle.”

Much of its fleet is made up of utes and heavy trucks, which means there is no electric option at this stage.

“But we realise technology is advancing rapidly and once commercial vehicles such as electric or hybrid utes and heavy trucks become available, our target then will be to switch an overall thirty percent of our entire fleet,” Todd says.

The company, which owns the electricity distribution network for Gisborne, Wairoa and the East Coast and the region’s port, launched a solar research trial earlier this year to help the company understand how people engage with the technology.