Whangarei EV charger concerns

Whangarei may be experiencing a bit of EV ‘charger rage’.

A complaint about “blocking” of a ChargeNet EV charger in the city has surfaced on the NZ EV Owners Facebook page, the complaint apparently directed at Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai who charges her Kia Niro there.

Her office says Mai never intentionally leaves her EV charging longer than necessary and that the charging plug has sometimes been pulled out before the car has finished charging properly.

Mai says it is expected that all EV owners abide by EV user etiquette and protocols, “ensuring they respect the needs of other users, and do not tamper with vehicles while charging as that may impact the vehicle’s charging port and capacity”.

“It is encouraging to see an increasing number of EVs in our district,” Mai adds.

“Whangarei is considered an EV friendly city, and we understand that ChargeNet is adding more charging stations around Whangarei.”

Asked what EV charging facilities Whangarei has, Mai says Tesla chargers are outside the council headquarters in the Forum North car park, as well as fast chargers within the centre of town and wider district in Waipu and Tutukaka.

“However, it would be great to see more facilities available for EV users in future.”

Whangarei EV advocate and Northland Regional Council rivers and natural hazards manager Joseph Camuso agrees more EV chargers are needed in the area.

He says free public charging is also available outside the NRC offices behind Domino’s Pizza. 

“In many ways we are a victim of our own success,” says Camuso. 

“Whangarei has a high adoption rate of short-range (Nissan) Leafs. in reality we do need more charging, especially with so many short-ranged Leafs in Whangarei.

“Also, we have had an influx of new EV owners in the last three months. Until you have confidence in your car’s range you tend to charge all the time and be over conservative. 

“In 10 years when all EVs have 400km range it will not be an issue, but (it’s) a chicken and egg problem at the moment.”

Camuso says people need to be courteous to fellow EV drivers. 

“There are abuses where people use these free chargers for private parking – that is not considerate.  “It will be awesome when we have the smart chargers that will be able to charge for dwell time – that will fix the problem.”

Camuso says the Whangarei District Council has been very supportive allowing P-180 free parking.  “The problem is that if EV users abuse this privilege it will be taken away and ruined for everyone.”

Camuso says he used to send e-mails to regular users of the public charging station to ask for more consistency from EV owners to police themselves.

“Otherwise the solution is very simple, WDC will do that for us.”

Meanwhile, ChargeNet says it’s planning up to six charging points in Whangarei with the support of the government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority EECA).

“We don’t have a confirmed location yet, but hope to be able to share one soon.”

An EV charging etiquette guide is available from the Better NZ Trust.