Charging Gigahub on horizon

One of the South Island’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs, with up to 20 fast-charge points, is due to open early next year.

It is being built under a partnership between bp charge and Christchurch Airport and will adjoin the existing bp connect on Russley Road, Christchurch.

The feasibility of adding more charge points to the Gigahub will regularly be assessed by bp and the airport company in the future.

Haley Mahoney, head of country, bp New Zealand, says it is bringing the best of its global expertise to the development, having already rolled out EV charging Gigahubs in other countries.

“With multiple fast-charge points available, Gigahubs enable drivers to charge without delay and access real-time data on charger availability through our bp charge app,” she says .

bp’s electrification business in New Zealand, bp charge, has been operating nationally since late 2022 and installed more than 100 charge points across the country.

The company says it is committed to powering the electrification of transport and has recently identified New Zealand as a growth region for its EV charging business.

Nick Flack, the airport’s general manager of planning and sustainability, says having a Gigahub on its campus makes sense because it is the “gateway to the South Island, has the majority of the island’s rental cars onsite and sits alongside major arterial motorways”.