Welcome to the newly renamed and designed EVs and Beyond May magazine
As the title states, we go beyond covering EVs, in this issue delving into solar power and the prospects for New Zealand in a field already spreading excitement through Australia.
We check out EV buying under COVD-19 restrictions and ask EV dealers how their preparations for dealing with the public are going under the conditions in which everyone now has to operate.
Vehicle dealerships are hopeful of a pick-up in EV trading after a disastrous April lockdown period saw registrations plummet.
The rental vehicle industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic restrictions too with tourism drying up. So many in the game have reinvented their businesses and are now assisting with deliveries.
The restrictions have also enabled people to see the improved air quality from the lack of vehicles on city streets. That’s led to calls for keeping it that way by accelerating EV uptake, improving e-mobility and more.
You can see how Mercury kept the smiles on families’ faces during the restrictions with its ‘Boredom Busters’ programme.
We review the Roewe Marvel X, which has its sister brand the MG ZS EV SUV expected in New Zealand soon.
Electric bikes have been a hit for many wanting to get out and about and exercise during the pandemic restrictions. Go to our Micro EVs section for more.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff talks about driving his EV to work during the alert levels, and a Maltese woman spending time here during the pandemic explains her work on future mobility and the need for dealerships to adapt by becoming EV “fleet managers”.
There’s a stack of other stuff like our ITS NZ pages, the imminent arrival of Mini’s first all-electric, ABB’s regular column, Gisborne’s electric village switching off, EV statistics and tables, plus our updated map of where to find EV charging stations.
We hope you enjoy reading the new-look magazine as much as we did crafting it.
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