Mevo expands car-sharing fleet

This story first appeared in the May issue of EVTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Electric car-sharing company Mevo is setting up its latest pick-up zone at Wellington’s Queens Wharf.

The company has added three Audi A3 e-trons, bringing its network to six. It aims to have more than 50 EVs on the road by the end of the year.

The expansion signals the beginning of a period of rapid growth for the company, thanks to funds secured through the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund managed by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

“The launch of this pod is a direct result of the tremendous interest we’ve experienced since our launch,” Mevo chief executive Erik Zydervelt says.

“This is the first of many pods we’ll be bringing online across Wellington in the coming months as we work to keep pace with demand.”

The pod’s location, next to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery on Queens Wharf, was selected by aggregating customer votes via Mevo’s location request tool and in conjunction with its renewable energy partner Meridian Energy.

“We’re excited to see the launch of a Mevo pod next door to Meridian,” the power company’s procurement manager Nick Robilliard says.

“For businesses, using a plug-in hybrid car-share service such as Mevo is a great alternative to hiring a car or maintaining a permanent fleet vehicle. “

Mevo’s expansion includes plans to add more vehicles across the Parliament precinct, Bolton, Ballance, Willeston, Victoria and Elizabeth streets and opposite Te Papa Tongarewa. Others will be confirmed before the end of the year.
The additional locations will use existing on-street parking owned by Wellington City Council, subject to proposed changes to the council’s traffic management policies.

Those changes include the reservation of 37 parking bays for EV charging and car-sharing.

“With 21 of these parking bays going to Mevo, it goes without saying that we support their success,” says councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman who leads the council’s transport strategy and operations portfolio.

“Mevo is proposing to put down ten times as many on-street car-sharing vehicles as we currently have in Wellington, providing a key opportunity for the council to understand the car-sharing market.”

Mercury teams with CityHop for EV trial.

Electric car-sharing is finally beginning in Auckland, with Mercury supplying a car and Cityhop the car-sharing platform.

Launching in the Newmarket business area later this month, Mercury will add a Nissan Leaf from its 42 EV fleet, complete with park and charging station, to Cityhop’s growing network of “car-by-the-hour” sharing sites.

“Renewable energy generation is Mercury’s, and one of New Zealand’s, greatest resources and competitive advantages,” Mercury executive Matt Olde says.

“It means that turning to electrified transport options is even more compelling than in many other countries yet we are in the slow lane when we should be on the electric highway.”

Mercury is looking to test and learn through the collaboration, he says.

Plans for expansion within Auckland city and downtown are also being considered.

Cityhop, which began in 2006, has more than 2500 Auckland subscribers to its car-by-the-hour service, which makes it easier for people to access a car without owning one.