Mokau EV charger opens with Eketahuna on the way

ChargeNet has opened its latest rapid EV charger in Mokau, 80km north of New Plymouth.

The 50kW DC rapid charger will make EV travel on State Highway 3 between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth much easier, especially for those with shorter range EVs, ChargeNet says.

It’s also planning to open by Christmas a 50kW charger in Eketahuna on the eastern side of the Tararua Ranges, 35km north of Masterton and a similar distance south of Palmerston North.

Together with two recently installed EV chargers in Pahiatua, the EV charger in Eketahuna will fill a critical 80km gap in the EV network along State Highway 2, the Tararua District Council says, adding it has fast-charging stations in Dannevirke and Woodville as well as two slow charge stations at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

The Pahiatua chargers cost about $200,000 including underground EV ducting and modifications to carparks and footpaths, about 40% of this funded through a grant by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and a grant is also being made available for the Eketahuna site.

EECA supported the Mokau EV charging installation through round seven of the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, while The Lines Company. Waitomo District Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have also backed it.

The installation links the two nearest 50kW rapid chargers at New Plymouth and Te Kuiti and provides a much-needed boost for those wanting to travel with “range confidence”, ChargeNet says.

“The Mokau charging station is another important link in our nationwide network and after some lengthy delays we’re delighted that it’s now live and operational in time for summer,” ChargeNet marketing and communications manager Bailey Gorst says.

“We recognise that Mokau has been a critical gap in the network.”