The latest round of co-funding in EECA’s Low Emission Transport Fund opened yesterday, with a goal to get more fast chargers installed along popular holiday routes before Christmas.
The funding is targeting EV charger projects for 25 locations on 14 popular holiday routes that have been identified as needing an increased charger presence. The speed of deployment of the chargers is a key requirement for funding.
Improving the public charger network will give more New Zealanders the confidence they need to choose an EV for their next vehicle purchase.
EECA Transport general manager, Richard Briggs said that those in control of an electric vehicle should have more accessibility on the roads.
“EV drivers should absolutely have the confidence to take off on a holiday without feeling nervous about range or queuing,” said Briggs.
A recent EECA survey of New Zealand EV owners highlights the growing need for this infrastructure. A significant increase in the use of public chargers was reported from 49 percent of drivers using public chargers in 2021, to 76 percent in 2023, mostly being for longer trips.
“EECA has long been committed to ensuring New Zealand’s charging infrastructure is set up to help EV drivers charge where and when they want. This research gives us, as well as our partners in government and industry, useful insights into where to focus future development,” Briggs said.
Despite the increased demand for public infrastructure, the research shows that charging at home remains the most common form of topping up, 97 percent of current EV owners charge at home at least some of the time, with 80 percent doing more than half their charging at home.
