Welcome to the newly renamed and designed EVs and Beyond June magazine
Life is almost back to normal.
Except there’s keener interest in avoiding emissions and saving the planet – good for EVs and renewable energy.
Trouble is, the New Zealand government doesn’t seem to be doing much to promote EV uptake, as we explain. And EV dealers don’t pull any punches saying what they think about it. That’s after Julie Anne Genter says she’s “optimistic” of getting part of the so-called Clean Car plan through before the September election. The vehicle emissions part anyway, where we still languish along with Australia and Russia among the few developed countries without vehicle emission standards.
As for the “feebate” – that’s not going to make it through before the election in any shape or form.
New Zealand is charging on without the government’s help though. The exciting Porsche Taycan is coming soon, and Kiwis are already trying EVs in different fields, even way below ground at Manapouri.
Several electricity companies are setting up EV charging and planning to go nationally, probably a bit of competition for ChargeNet NZ.
Speaking of electricity companies, Mercury is back post COVID-19 with a stepped up ‘Kiss Oil Goodbye’ campaign and is involved in the newly launched Locky Docks e-bike secure parking and charging project.
We look at the solar scene, which includes a Waikanae couple’s move to sun power for their home and EV.
Congratulating everyone for getting New Zealand through COVID-19 relatively unscathed compared with much of the world, ITS NZ reveals its COVID-19 transport survey which shows a high level of optimism.
One of the world’s leading transport experts, Carol Schweiger, talks about mobility as a service (Maas) on June 23 in an ITS NZ series.
She writes in this issue about how transport has changed.
We feature a new EV truck for sanitation and street cleaning – an important part of the COVID-19 clean up.
And there’s the Subaru hybrid e-Boxer, plus our Micro EVs section which includes car share Mevo’s move to link e-scooters and other mobility under a Transit app.
EV registrations are picking up but there’s a way to go yet – see our latest stats, which include the Tesla Model 3 back in pole position among new EVs.
Kiwis tend to embrace tech advances quicker than anyone else, and EVs are no exception.
Adrian Duque of Schneider Electric NZ looks at what’s happening here in relation to EVs and charging, and compares how we are doing on a global front.
And there’s a whole lot more in an issue sure to grab your interest.
Join the conversation (1)
The following thoughts are not intended for publishing and I assume can be treated as a view maybe with a valid option for debate. I have tried briefly and to date unsuccessfully to get data on accidents re LHD v RHD vehicles in NZ on pro-rata base. I doubt there are many, if any that can attributed primarily to vehicle being LHD.
Hi
I’m unaware LHD vehicles imported for use in NZ have caused a disproportionate number of road accidents. There are hundreds of them imported as classic cars by choice and enjoyed by owners.
If import of new vehicles in LHD format was permitted, wait times for new vehicles would be significantly reduced.
Driving a LHD vehicle in NZ can be safer than RHD, on narrow restricted vision roads, of which there are plenty. Firstly, keeping left is easier as the driver can place the vehicle adjacent to the edge of the road more accurately. Turning left with restricted vision due to a bank etc allows positioning as far left as possible to be carried out. For right turns with restricted vision the driver in LHD vehicles are able to get the first view of approaching traffic, instead of the passenger. In both these situations the driver is able to be as close to side of the road as possible more easily.
On open roads with adequate width the act of passing may be brought up as an
issue with less vision ahead when following a vehicle that “needs” to be passed. This is easily remedied by dropping back sufficiently to be able to see clear space ahead to pass and also getting a better view to assess possible side road/cross road traffic likely to pull out at time of passing. Passing must not be regarded as must do so dropping back a little to be sure of views ahead is a calming action and should be considered important
There are other advantages in entering and exiting vehicles for the driver in being against the kerb. With passengers of course this is a negated benefit, except for sole driver trips, which are common.
Of course I’m motivated to favour this change in permitted new vehicle rules because I drive both LHD & RHD vehicles we own. We can also speed up the entry of EVS into NZ as we are in a minority with RHD vehicles internationally and have to wait up to a year extra to get new RHD versions.
Regards
Gordon Peterson