Powerco powers up on EVs

This story first appeared in the January issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Powerco is well on the way to having the majority of its vehicle pool fleet electric or hybrid by the end of the year.

As geographically the largest electricity distribution business in New Zealand, the company says it has both a desire and a duty to be at the forefront of this exciting new phase in private transport.

Powerco wanted to lead by example and back in 2016, joined other high-profile businesses in committing to converting 30% of its fleet to electric.

As well as supporting electric vehicle use in its own business, Powerco has been pivotal in increasing the number of chargers across its network area.

In conjunction with ChargeNet NZ, charging stations have been installed across the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Taranaki and Whanganui.

Increasing the number of charging stations encourages the uptake of EVs.

It also benefits Powerco which has offices in New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Tauranga and Wellington.

While the sites have their own charging facilities, the public charging stations make it easier for employees who often travel long distances for work.

Staff have got behind the move to electric vehicles, Powerco business development general manager Eric Pellicer says.

“They’ve shown a keen interest in the new technology and appreciate the opportunity to charge their own vehicles at work should they choose to go electric.”

The vehicle selection process involved talking with employees to find out what they required to do their job.This inclusive approach helped gain support for the introduction of EVs.

Powerco has around 70 vehicles that include electric or plug-in hybrids.These are Mitsubishi Outlanders (PHEV), Hyundai Ioniqs and Volkswagen e-Golfs which were imported from the United Kingdom before they hit the New Zealand market.

Staff who travel to remote areas in the field, often over rugged terrain, are assigned their own utes.Until these become electric, Powerco will focus on swapping the shared vehicles to electric models.

A full transition is expected by the end of the year – except for a small number of utes required for the pool fleet.

As an electricity distributor, Powerco needs to make sure the network has the capacity for the increase in electric vehicle use.When people charge their vehicles at home, it increases the amount of electricity flowing through the network.

“We’re intent on preparing the electricity network for our customers to ensure it is ready for the inevitable transition to electric vehicles,” Pellicer says.

An example is the collaboration project with a Taranaki Maori health provider.Powerco installed an EV charging station at the work site and provided a Volkswagen e-Golf for staff to use for 12 months.

“While we gathered important data for our own use, we also wanted the trial to benefit the community at large,” Pellicer explains.

“Being one of the larger New Zealand lines companies, we are in the perfect position to make a difference in supporting the use of electric vehicles.”

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity utility and gas distribution utility with around 1.1 million customers (across 446,000 connections) connected to its networks.

Powerco’s electricity networks are in the Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Whanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa.

Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay.