Power company: EVs a game changer

Partially state-owned power company Mighty River Power has identified electric vehicles as a key part of its future trade – noting: “We have enough infrastructure consented to power every passenger vehicle in the country.”

Chief executive Fraser Whineray says he was pleased to be able to present that fact to the recent Transport Fuels Summit.

“The technology, performance and costs of plug-in vehicles are changing rapidly,” Whineray told the company’s annual general meeting in Auckland. “Where EVs were an odd and impractical proposition a few years ago – there are now some excellent models on the market that suit our lifestyles, and look and perform like an ordinary car… in many instances, better.

“They’re quieter, better for the environment and run for about a quarter the cost of fossil fuels,” he emphasise. “Correct, less than one quarter for a plug-in hybrid, and in the case of the pure EV that would be about seven times better than petrol.”

He says in many cases now the savings outweigh the up front costs.

The company was moving into electric vehicles for its fleet, among a number of EV projects.

“Mighty River Power is pushing on a range of fronts to build awareness of the fantastic opportunity for New Zealand around electrification of transport and this country’s home-grown energy advantage,” he says.

“I am pleased to announce today that we will be converting around 70% of our company fleet to plug-in or plug-in hybrids over the next four years as the current leases expire … every one that’s practically possible at this stage.

“We are also partnering with other agencies around charging infrastructure, energy plans for customers, drive programmes, and other avenues to promote EVs through manufacturers, the second-hand car market and directly with consumers,” Whineray says.

“This will be a game-changer.”