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Here’s a selection of interesting EV news stories.
28th September 2022
Electric Kiwi and Evnex partner on EV charging
Electric Kiwi is working with Evnex to give Electric Kiwi customers money off their new installed smart EV charger, the option of an interest-free payment plan to pay off the rest, and access to Electric Kiwi’s MoveMaster power plan which offers cheap off-peak day rates and half-price overnight rates (from 11pm to 7am). Everyone also has access to Electric Kiwi’s free “Hour of Power”.
19th September 2022
EV battery charges in three minutes, lasts 20 years
Harvard-backed start-up Adden Energy has developed an EV solid-state battery capable of fully charging in three minutes and lasting 20 years.
Adden Energy has received US$5.15 million in funding led by Primavera Capital Group, with participation by Rhapsody Venture Partners and MassVentures, to commercialise the battery, with the technology gaining a license from Harvard’s Office of Technology Development.
15th September 2022
Genesis EV ‘energy roaming’ saves up to 70% on public charging
In a New Zealand first, Genesis has developed “energy roaming” for EV drivers, making it cheaper and easier to charge when out and about.
“EVerywhere” lets EV owners use ChargeNet’s 280 hubs throughout New Zealand for the same rate they pay at home, which can save drivers up to 70% on the cost of charging, eliminating the variability and uncertainty of public charging rates.
29th August 2022
$4.8m extra for EVs, etc
Further funds to help buy EVs and install charging infrastructure have been announced.
Climate Change minister James Shaw has allocated another $4.8 million from the Government’s $220m State Sector Decarbonisation Fund to purchase more EVs and energy-efficient lighting.
31st March 2022
Great Video Explains Solar-Powered EVs
A recent video at YouTube not only explains the math behind solar-powered EVs, but also gave plenty of nuance on the subject.
More importantly, it’s made to be accessible for people who don’t follow EVs the way that many of our readers do.
29th March 2022
Build chargers and the ev drivers will come
There are more than 1,200 petrol stations in New Zealand, and if we conservatively assume six bowsers per station, there are at least 7,000 places where you can get your petrol or diesel car refuelled at any one time.
In comparison, according to the NZTA Journeys website, there are 326 public EV chargers in the country.
The Government reports that there are already chargers every 75km of state highway, which is a start. But we need public chargers in our suburban streets, and in the carparks of businesses and other amenities.
9th March 2022
More EVs likely means less pollution from utilities not more: Here’s why
There are some ill-informed opinion pieces suggesting that the more EVs that are put to use, the more we’ll need to tap into dirtier power sources in order to meet demand.
But as a recent RMI report suggests, that’s not true—because relatively simple tech like smart charging and time-of-use rates will help smooth loads and help utilities make the most of renewables.
28th February 2022
Take A Closer Look At A Nio EV Battery Swapping Station In China
The station can put a new fully-charged battery considerably quicker than it would take to charge it.
The draw of battery swapping station for electric vehicles is undeniable – it would save users time by not requiring them to leave their vehicles hooked up to a charger, often for many hours.
9th December 2021
EV RUC extension to March 31, 2024
The EV road user charges (RUC) exemption due to end on December 31 this year has now been extended to March 31, 2024.
The RUC exemption will save EV owners around $800 annually and has been extended as part of a package of measures to encourage EV uptake to reduce emissions.
5th November 2021
ZipCharge to release portable charger that’ll let you charge your EV anywhere
One of the main concerns for potential buyers of EVs, is range. “How will my battery last a road trip if there’s no place to charge it?”
Well, fret no more! ZipCharge is introducing a product that it hopes will help solve this exact issue!
The device acts similarly to a “jerry can” for electricity, or a power bank for your phone. The ZipCharge Go is a portable battery that will give you a few more kilometres of range.
28th October 2021
STATE SECTOR FLEET ADDING 127 EVS
Further funding will allow 127 more EVs to be added to the state sector fleet (now with nearly 600 EVs), along with associated charging infrastructure.
Climate change minister James Shaw has allocated another $13.2 million from the Government’s $220 million State Sector Decarbonisation Fund to purchase the EVs, install LED lighting, and replace chillers and coal boilers with cleaner alternatives.
The latest projects include:
- $1.553 million for the Ministry for Primary Industries in Wellington to purchase 52 EVs and charging infrastructure (the ministry providing $1.707m)
- $1.866m for Auckland’s Waitemata District Health Board to purchase 72 EVs and install charging infrastructure (plus $1.866m from the DHB’s budget)
- $105,000 for the Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki to buy three EVs and install charging infrastructure (with $137,000 from its own budget).
8th October 2021
SPARK NETWORK EXTENSION ENABLES MORE RURAL EV CHARGERS
More rural areas can now get Electric Vehicle (EV) ready, thanks to the extension of the Spark IoT network.
The upgrade of 263 Rural Connectivity Group cell sites to Spark CAT-M1 IoT technology, means Kiwi-owned EV charging company, Evnex, can now install and monitor EV chargers in more rural towns, homes and isolated parts of the country in real time.
The extension of Spark’s CAT-M1 IoT network means it now reaches more than 99% of the overall New Zealand population and close to 94% of the rural New Zealand population.
Evnex chief executive Ed Harvey says the extended coverage is good news for Aotearoa, and will aid a shift to a low-carbon economy as data insights from IoT sensors lead to productivity and efficiency gains.
15th September 2021
CHARGING EVS AT HOME: THE PROS, CONS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
Electric cars have become a hot topic. The cost of entry is now a little more affordable with the clean car rebate and that has brought more people around to considering electric vehicles.
But what do you need to know about charging? Glad you asked. We enlisted the help of an expert, Glenn Inkster, manager of the e-mobility division at Transnet NZ, to talk us through it.
He says there are fundamentally two ways to charge, using either AC or DC power. Confusing the matter, there are many different terms for the same thing. DC is the rapid-type charging that takes place at a public station, sometimes called Mode 4 or Level 3 charging.
29th July 2021
AA EV charging breakdown van service to be extended
The AA’s first electric vehicle charging breakdown van has been on the road in Wellington for more than a year – giving EVs a roadside boost two to three times a month on average.
The AA Battery Service van launched in late July 2020 to help curb ‘range anxiety’ is fitted with a lightweight EV charger.
In 20-25 minutes, it enables enough charge to drive up to 10km, so AA members can get home or to a nearby charging station.
The response to the van has been fantastic – prompting plans to expand the service to other areas in the near future, AA Battery Service general manager Mandy Mellar says.
29th July 2021
UK rule change could be groundbreaking for electric cars
The UK has done more than most when it comes to preparing for an electric car switch-up. Its ban on pure internal combustion engine vehicles comes into effect in 2030 (hybrids follow in 2035), five years prior to the European Union’s proposed ban.
It’s not really a surprise, therefore, to read conversations from the UK that are several steps ahead of the conversation. The latest of these concerns public charging and how much it costs.
26th July 2021
EV BATTERY RECYCLING BREAKTHROUGHS
Significant breakthroughs in recycling EV batteries could help the automotive industry tackle criticism that such batteries come with a heavy carbon footprint.
That’s thanks to the effort of extracting mined materials used in their manufacture, Movemnt reports, adding the breakthroughs could make valuable supplies of materials such as cobalt and nickel go further while reducing dependence on China and difficult mining jurisdictions.
21st July 2021
HEATING DRAINS AN EV BATTERY FASTEST
Heating drains an EV battery faster than any other in-car feature, increasing battery drain speed by 17%.
So says Vanarama which has done a study to find out which in-car features drain an EV battery the most so you can get more kilometres from your EV.
Windscreen wipers and heated seats drain an EV battery 15% faster each – just behind in-car heating.
Satellite navigation drains the average EV’s battery the slowest at only 5% faster.
17th July 2021
Home EV charging: benefits by the numbers
Recently we covered the process of fitting a home EV charger. Though not suited to every EV/PHEV owner, we did look at the benefits, and with my own long distance drive between work and home, and the need to recharger faster on weekends, the appeal of a home EV charger won out due to the need to charger faster than the 1.2kW portable chargers offered, as typically found sitting messily in the boot of most new EVs.
22nd June 2021
The secret to expanding EVs – wireless charging
Wireless charging stations set in the pavement for vehicles to park over are closer than you think, for both cars and heavy transport vehicles. Professors Grant Covic and Nick Long and Dr Doug Wilson explain.
Urgent action is needed to increase the ease of owning and operating electric vehicles (EVs), both light and heavy duty, if Aotearoa New Zealand’s vehicle fleet is to change in time to meet the required targets for greenhouse gas emissions set by the Climate Change Commission.