Charging report’s ‘narrow’ focus

Drive Electric has welcomed Electricity Networks Aotearoa’s engagement in charging, but says its Journey Charging report risks underestimating what’s required to support EV uptake in New Zealand.

The industry group says the report focuses narrowly on passenger vehicle journey charging along state highways. 

While important, this represents only a small part of the system and overlooks “critical needs” already emerging across the country, including heavy-vehicle charging, destination charging in towns and tourism locations, and growing demand for high-capacity, multi-charger sites that give drivers confidence to travel. 

The International Energy Agency’s global EV outlook for 2025 highlights that countries leading electric-vehicle adoption are investing rapidly in high-power, well-distributed public networks. 

“By comparison, New Zealand is already behind similar markets on such charging availability and scale, increasing the risk we become global laggards if infrastructure planning doesn’t accelerate and modernise,” says Drive Electric.

It adds the suggestion in Electricity Networks Aotearoa’s report that future charging needs can largely be met by deploying 50kW chargers fails to reflect how EV drivers behave nor the capabilities of modern models entering the fleet. 

Today’s EV drivers expect faster charging, multiple charge points per site and the confidence chargers will be available when they arrive. 

Recent research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority shows lack of public chargers, queuing, slow charging speeds and inconvenient locations remain key barriers for current and prospective EV drivers, says Drive Electric.

“Less than half of EV drivers agree there are enough public chargers nationwide, and concerns about waiting times and charger availability continue to affect confidence in EV travel,” it adds.

“The report’s cost assumptions also don’t reflect the reality facing charge-point operators [CPOs], which are not only looking for small pockets of spare network capacity. 

“To deliver a good driver experience and remain commercially viable, CPOs are investing in higher-capacity connections, multiple chargers per site and infrastructure that can scale with demand.

“Planning around minimal capacity risks infrastructure that’s undersized from day one. Electricity networks play a critical role in enabling electrification, but network companies aren’t best placed to design the network itself. 

“That role sits with CPOs who understand driver needs, technology trends and real-world utilisation. The electrification of transport is increasing globally and New Zealand will follow. The importance of timely connections, flexible commercial arrangements and better visibility of network capacity is critical to ensure an adequate EV charger network.”