ChargeNet, a prominent player in the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, has recently acquired several free charging stations scattered across Auckland. This transition marks a shift from complimentary services to a paid model for users accessing these stations.

Formerly under Vector's ownership, eight sites are set to transition to ChargeNet's control on February 19, 2024.

Among these, half offer Direct Current (DC) charging, while the remainder provide Alternating Current (AC) options.

With this change in ownership comes a new requirement for users: they must register for a ChargeNet account either through the company's website or its smartphone application to initiate charging sessions, if they haven't already done so.

The affected charging stations, along with their pricing structure, are listed as follows:

1. Constellation Drive McDonalds, 14-16 Constellation Drive, Rosedale – DC – $0.80/kWh
2. Greenlane McDonalds, 320/356 Great South Road, Greenlane – DC – $0.80/kWh
3. Hobson Street Substation, 13 Hobson Street – DC – $0.80/kWh
4. Newmarket Substation, 1 Seccombes Road – DC – $0.80/kWh
5. Auckland Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton – AC – $0.40/kWh
6. Aryeh (Piha Cafe), 20 Seaview Road, Piha – AC – $0.40/kWh
7. MOTAT, Stadium Road, Western Springs – AC – $0.40/kWh
8. Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Road, Wiri – AC – $0.40/kWh

The origin of these charging stations dates back to a trial initiated by Vector in 2015, nearly a decade ago, aimed at understanding EV usage patterns.

Over the years, New Zealand's EV fleet has grown significantly, with over 60,000 units added to the roads last year alone.

Consequently, Vector deemed it appropriate to transfer ownership of the chargers to ChargeNet, the country's largest charging network.

Some EV owners already have ChargeNet accounts linked to their electricity providers through partnerships with Genesis Energy, Electric Kiwi, and Octopus Energy.