New Waipu EV charger expands Northland’s network

A new fast EV charger has opened at Waipu and plugs a gap in a key location for motorists travelling both north and south.

The $68,000 project was jointly funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and EV charging network ChargeNet and supported by the Northland Regional Council (NRC), Whangarei District Council (WDC) and Northpower. 

Supporters and EV users have welcomed the new station, especially given the high ownership of EVs in the wider area.

The NRC is keen to support improvements to the region’s EV charging stations as a practical part of its commitment to climate action, its climate change working party chair Amy Macdonald says.

“Council envisages a region that’s resilient in a changing climate and transitions proactively and equitably to a thriving net-zero emissions society before 2050,” she explains. 

“Encouraging use of electric vehicles is one of the ways we can help achieve this.”

Macdonald says the 50kW DC fast charger compares favourably to the 3kW AC chargers Whangarei residents may already be familiar with in the city’s Water St carpark.

The Whangarei District Council provided two parking spaces for the Waipu EV charging station, the license to occupy, and painted the parking spots and signage, while Northpower worked closely with the NRC to find an innovative engineering solution to help deliver the project on budget.

An NRC staff member visiting the Waipu EV charger in a Nissan Leaf had seen the vehicle’s charge increase from 50% to 80% in 11 minutes at a cost of $3.52.

The new charging station outside the Waipu Museum will be the seventh in the Crimson Coast EV highway, with others at Kaikohe, Kerikeri, Coopers Beach, Pukenui, Paihia and Waitiki Landing.

A further three charging stations are being considered.