Skip to main content

New Zealand entrepreneur to build country’s first fast-charging network

Founder and managing director of Charge.net.nz, Steve West, aims to build New Zealand’s first electric vehicle (EV) charging network. He claims to have identified 75 sites across the country and plans to have fast chargers installed on all of them by the end of 2017.
May 26, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Founder and managing director of %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal Charge.net.nz Visit http://charge.net.nz/ false http://charge.net.nz/ false false%>, Steve West, aims to build New Zealand’s first electric vehicle (EV) charging network. He claims to have identified 75 sites across the country and plans to have fast chargers installed on all of them by the end of 2017.

EV charger manufacturer, Brisbane-based 7335 Tritium, has shipped the first instalment of a major order placed by the company; 23 Veefil 50 kW DC fast chargers, which support both CHAdeMO & SAE-Combo standards, will form the first phase of the three-year project and will be deployed in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. The first unit is expected to be deployed in Auckland in June 2015.

According to West, “EVs are perfect for New Zealand; our electricity generation is 80 per cent renewable and fossil fuels are expensive to export to a relatively isolated Pacific island nation.  New Zealand currently has only around 250 pure EVs, but second-hand vehicles, particularly from Japan, are becoming available at a very reasonable price and as we roll out the fast-charging network, I anticipate we will see a rapid uptake in the country.”

Tritium’s commercial director, Paul Sernia comments, “Steve West is a true evangelist for the benefits of EVs.  He’s an enthusiastic EV owner and driver himself and has a real vision of the benefits this fast-charging network could bring to New Zealand.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TRL announces new student award initiative
    September 22, 2016
    The UK Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has launched the TRL Student Award, which aims to tap into the creative skills of today’s younger generation in the UAE in order to help solve practical, real life problems while also helping the region in its move towards more growth and development. The initiative will award some of the region’s top student minds for their proposals of innovative and sustainable transport solutions in a special awards ceremony on the sidelines of Gulf Traffic 2016, which will
  • Panasonic demonstrates evolution of vehicle On-Board Units in Vienna
    October 24, 2012
    Panasonic is showcasing the evolution of vehicle On-Board Units (OBU) which combine electronic toll collection with provision of real-time travel information to drivers. The first generation of DSRC-based OBUs launched to market in Japan back in 2001, where around 40 million are now in use. The technology is especially relevant in Panasonic’s home country, as all motorways are private and congestion is a common problem. Value-added services such as local parking information can also be accessed.
  • Smart Urban Mobility Solutions conference promises a ‘packed’ programme
    May 2, 2017
    A ‘packed’ two day conference programme is promised for the first Smart Urban Mobility Solutions (SUMS 2017) conference and exhibition which is being held 10-11 May at Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus. Scotland’s Minister for Transport and the Islands is the keynote speaker; and 20-plus low carbon vehicles form the basis of conference and exhibition. SUMS 2017 is co-located with All-Energy, the UK’s renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference, and is sponsored by All-Energy’s headline sponsor,
  • Tritium scales up EV charging
    January 12, 2021
    Company's platform means 50kW DC chargers can be upgraded to 75kW and beyond