It makes sense to go electric
As I write this at the end of September, we have just seen a huge amount of activity around New Zealand promoting electric vehicles (EVs) to New Zealanders for International Drive Electric Week. I attended some of these events, and I was delighted at the enthusiasm I saw for what is a key part of the future of transport in our country.
From the 89-year-old EV owner I spoke to in Thames, to the people stopping to check out the EV parked on display outside my local grocery store, New Zealanders are curious about EVs.
Even on a drizzly day in Auckland we still had the biggest ever gathering of EVs in the country — with 60 electric cars on display. Of the 1500 people that came to MOTAT that day, nearly 100 of them were sufficiently curious to sign up for an EV drive experience over the next two weeks.
At the Matakana Farmers market more than 200 people chatted to a local EV owner, and the demand for EV drives was so great the volunteers simply couldn’t keep up (or get enough vehicles out!). This level of interest was repeated up and down our country over two weekends. And I think it is just a taste of things to come.
Earlier in September we had our first Electric Vehicles Leadership Group meeting. The group, appointed by the minister, comprises 10 corporate and government chief executives, general managers and directors representing a range of stakeholders.
While this session was only the first, it is clear that there is a significant diversity of experience which will prove invaluable in providing ongoing guidance and commentary on the roll-out of EVs across New Zealand.
It is really encouraging to note that many businesses and consumers are already making the transition to electric, because they can see that it makes sense from an environmental perspective and from an operating cost perspective. The day after that first meeting, Waste Management announced its decision to move to electric trucks as part of its commitment to sustainability.
While there will be staged trials, with a fleet of 800 trucks and 200 light vehicles the potential is enormous. The thing that really stood out for me about this story was its ‘circular economy’ — using methane from the rubbish they collect in the trucks to generate electricity that is then used to power the trucks.
Electric vehicle technology is perfect for rubbish trucks. The weight of the batteries is no big deal, and the regeneration they get from the constant stopping and starting is great for the battery, and not so good for diesel consumption.
I live on the Kapiti Coast, and have had an electric rubbish truck going past my front door for the past three years, the first in New Zealand. It won’t be too much longer before these are a more common sight on New Zealand streets, and thankfully they are a lot quieter than their diesel-powered predecessors. Kapiti District Council’s analysis showed the total cost of ownership was no more than the diesel option, and in practice it is finding it’s much less – and the electric truck is helping to reduce its carbon footprint.
Back in June I attended the Wellington Electric Vehicle Symposium, and heard Zane Fulljames from NZ Bus tell how he started the 2016 year with a statement to his management team that the company would never buy another diesel bus. NZ Bus now has the Wrightspeed technology deployment underway, and I can’t wait to see those buses on our roads.
These are just some of the great examples of businesses taking a lead on EVs. In the light vehicle fleet there are many more – from large businesses such as Westpac and Air New Zealand through to individual tradespeople and small businesses.
The Leadership Group has a role to play in promoting EV uptake, but equally many fleets, supported by those in the auto industry who are supplying EVs, are just getting on with it and making the commitment now — and they will reap the benefits.
Mike Underhill is chief executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. This is the first column in a series from members of the Government’s Electric Vehicles Leadership Group.
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