Plan for world’s first EV residential island

Auckland’s Waiheke Island has launched a plan to become the world’s first electric vehicle-only residential island by 2030.

It’s communities like Waiheke which are driving the EV change, Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association secretary general Christina Bu told about 45 people at an Electric Breakfast in the Waiheke RSA to launch the plan.

The idea has come from advocacy group Electric Island Waiheke, whose spokesman Vern Whitehead says ditching fossil fuel vehicles from the island will have economic and environmental benefits.

Waiheke has 86 registered EVs – along with electric bikes, e-scooters and e-motorbikes – and aims to get to 7000 to replace the island’s conventional vehicles.

“Everyone knows the environmental benefits but few know about the economic benefits of EVs,” Whitehead says, adding the island has some of the most expensive petrol in New Zealand.

Because of the short distances travelled on Waiheke, the island could use EVs which are no longer suitable for “mainland” purposes, he says.

EVs need to be much cheaper to make them affordable to many island residents, Whitehead adds.

“Electric Island – bring it on!” Waiheke Local Board chairwoman Cath Handley told the launch.

She says it is part of a raft of measures to make the island more sustainable.

Residents say more infrastructure is needed to help the island become fully electric – including a fast charger, although most EVs would be charged at home, likely to incorporate solar.