The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year.

Minister of Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods says the focus is on major highways, throughfares, and places New Zealanders regularly visit while out and about, such as shopping.

“Our EV sales keep increasing month on month, so we’re working with the industry to ensure charging capacity grows, and in front of demand,” said Megan Woods.

“We have hit the previous EV charging target of one charger each 75km on our State highways, but our new vision is that New Zealanders should be able to charge where and when they need to. The projects that have received co-funding today show the full mix of options EV drivers can expect.”

EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) research shows that while 80% of people do more than half of their charging at home, Kiwis also need a range of options available to them while out and about, and especially on longer journeys.

“New chargers will be situated at places like shopping centres where people may be parked for up to a couple of hours,” said Megan Woods.

“To help with longer journeys, the government is co-funding high-speed chargers on main highways at 19 popular holiday routes including Bombay, Turangi and Wanaka. Also included are the country’s first charging ‘hubs’ where up to ten high-speed chargers will sit alongside amenities like food options and toilets.”

The government's draft National EV Charging Strategy - Charging our Future - proposed a target for hubs to be situated about every 150-200km across the State highway network.

The announced projects come from three rounds of the Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by EECA. Altogether, 16 projects will receive $11 million in government co-funding, matched by $13.5 million in private investment.

Danusia Wypych, ChargeNet’s CEO, says that when partnering with EECA, ChargeNet leverages data-driven insights and valuable customer feedback to strategically invest co-funding into communities that will support current and future EV drivers.

“We are excited to bring eight new electric vehicle charging sites across New Zealand’s regional centres. Our focus is on providing fast charging in the right place, at the right time and at the right speed.

“The co-funding will support improving charging capacity ahead of the anticipated summer demand and build network coverage in regional areas and holiday hotspots throughout the country.”

Craig Marshall, Head of We.EV at WEL networks, says, “The LETF funding has been instrumental in enabling both the viability and speed to market of new public charging stations and is key to meeting the future charging demand.

“These sites are not necessarily economic from day one, however we need to build out the infrastructure to meet increasing demand and the funding assists business to bridge that gap.

“The size of the chargers we are looking to install now has increased enabling faster charge times and allowance for future upgrades.”

Kieran Turner, Head of EV Charging, Z Energy, echoed the role of the partnership saying, “the support will enable Z to deliver more charging bays sooner at key locations for drivers.

“This includes the ability to put in more capacity ahead of the curve at some of our busiest locations, as well as plugging some of the gaps on people’s longer journeys. As part of this work, Z is excited to be partnering with Red Phase Technologies to bring innovation to the industry for our larger sites that will reduce the demand on the electricity grid while enhancing the overall customer experience.”

Megan Woods said, “The LETF has been a key driver for the development of the public network.

“The investment will help ensure we are in a good position to reduce emissions from transport. This is critical to hitting New Zealand’s net zero goal and avoiding the worst of climate change.

“We are starting to bend the curve on transport emissions; the latest data shows that emissions from household vehicle use fell 2.5% in the December 2022 quarter. We want to not only continue that downward trend but accelerate its pace.

“We will continue to invest in the infrastructure that can help us get there,” Megan Woods said.

More information about the confirmed co-funding, and previous rounds, can be found here: Low Emission Transport Fund | EECA.

Notes for editors:

About the LETF:

The Low Emission Transport Fund, administered by EECA, supports the demonstration and adoption of low emission transport technology, innovation, and infrastructure to accelerate the decarbonisation of the New Zealand transport sector.

The fund focusses on activities in the transport sector that move people and/or goods on roads, off-road, and in the marine and aviation sectors to:

• Demonstrate innovative solutions that will enable future adoption and deployment
• Reduce energy-related emissions in the transport sector
• Address market and organisational barriers through co-investment and diffusion of new knowledge and lessons, and
• Share knowledge and lessons to stimulate wider replication of successful projects and solutions in the transport sector.
• Wider transport systems and activities (such as building roads, urban design, and mode shift policy) are excluded.

Each round of the LETF provides co-funding to a particular area of interest (unlike the previous LEVCF, in which each round welcomed the full range of applications). An announcement will be made in advance of each funding round advising which areas of interest will be included.

Projects:

Round Six – Public Charging Infrastructure – Destination Charging

• JOLT Charge (New Zealand) Limited t/a Jolt $500,000

JOLT Charge will install 10 25-50kW DC EV chargers. Locations: Henderson, Mt Wellington, Hornby, Papanui, Manurewa, Whangarei, Botany, Silverdale, Napier, Te Atatu.

• WEL Networks Ltd $38,711

WEL Networks are installing 2 x 30kW DC chargers in Morrinsville, Waikato.

• WEL Networks Ltd $31,908

WEL Networks are installing 2 x 30kW DC chargers at 409 Grey St, Hamilton.

• WEL Networks Ltd $39,026

WEL Networks are installing 2 x 30kW DC chargers in Matamata, Waikato.

• ChargeNet NZ Limited $500,000

ChargeNet NZ will install or upgrade six 75kW DC fast chargers across five sites in Motueka, Tairua, Blenheim, Cromwell and Waihi to support holidaying traffic and regional adoption, with the capacity to charge four EVs at each location.

• Jump Charging Limited $56,707

Jump Charging are installing a 75kW dual head fast charger at the Mandeville Village shopping centre in Mandeville village to fill a gap for users at a location which is central and accessible.

• Network Waitaki Limited $105,052

Network Waitaki are adding 3 x 50kW chargers in the Oamaru Harbour area which will mean there will be 4 x 50kW chargers at this site.

Round Nine – Public Charging Infrastructure – Journey Charging

1. Z Energy Limited
2. Culverden – one 150kW charger with two ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $240,000 
3. Taipa – one 180kW + one 50kW chargers with 3 ports (1 CHADEMO, 2 CCS) $283,800 
4. Wairoa – one 75kW charger with 2 ports (1 CHADEMO, 1 CCS) $150,000 
5. Ngatea – four 200kW chargers with 8 ports (1 CHADEMO, 7 CCS) $327,500 
6. Stratford – two 180kW chargers with 4 ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $247,500 
7. The Lines Company
8. Taumarunui - one 150kW charger with two ports (2 CCS) $122,500 
9. WEL Networks
10. Hikuai – two 160kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $266,000 
11. Raglan – two 180kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $255,500 
12. ChargeNet NZ Limited
13. ChargeNet NZ will install six 150kW DC fast chargers across three sites in Greytown, Paeroa and Whakatāne to support holidaying traffic and regional adoption, with the capacity to charge four EVs at each location
14. Greytown - two 150kW chargers with 4 ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $190,000 
15. Paeroa - two 150kW chargers with 4 ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $190,000 
16. Whakatāne - two 150kW chargers with 4 ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $190,000 
17. Jump Charging Limited
18. Geraldine - two 150kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, CCS) $272,500 
19. Twizel - two 150kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $308,500 
20. Omarama – two 150kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $295,500 
21. EV Infrastructure Partners
22. Roxburgh - one 150kW charger with two ports (1 CHADEMO, 1 CCS) $165,100 
23. Te Anau - one 150kW charger with two ports (1 CHADEMO, 1 CCS) $165,100 
24. Greymouth - two 150kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $240,850 
25. Mangawhai - two 150kW chargers with four ports (1 CHADEMO, 3 CCS) $267,100 

Round Ten – Public Charging Infrastructure – Hubs

1. Z Energy Limited
2. Bombay – Hub site at Z – Bombay $1,336,500: eight chargers capable of charging eight vehicles at speeds up to 150kWh to 200kWh
3. Masterton – Hub site at Z – Masterton $935,000: four chargers capable of charging four cars at once at speeds of up to 200kWh
4. Turangi– Hub site at Z - Turangi $1,314,500: six chargers capable of charging six vehicles at speeds up to 200kWh Service Station, Cnr State Highway One and, Pīhanga Road, Tūrangi 3334. 
5. ChargeNet
6. ChargeNet – Tauriko, Tauranga: five 150kW DC fast chargers able to charge up to ten vehicles at once.
7. BP
8. Papamoa – Hub site at BP Papamoa $795,000: five 150kw Tritium charging units, capable of charging up to 10 vehicles at once
9. Tirau – Hub site at BP Tirau $671,000: four 150kw Tritium charging units, capable of charging up to eight vehicles at once
10. Wanaka – Hub site at BP Wanaka $377,000: three 150kw Tritium charging units, capable of charging up to six vehicles at once.

Round Ten total of 35 chargers, able to charge up to 52 vehicles at once.