Defence Force plugs into EVs
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has purchased its first electric vehicle (EV) and installed charging stations at Trentham Military Camp in a bid to cut its carbon footprint.
The Hyundai Ioniq will join the fleet at Trentham, where the two Delta 7kW slow charging stations are also available for personnel to charge their private EVs.
It is part of the Defence Force’s wider programme towards a more sustainable operation, which fits with the government’s drive to put more EVs on the roads.
The Trentham trial will determine how many chargers might be needed long-term and how best a booking system might work across all military sites.
Major Jim Maguire, pictured, Trentham Camp commander, says a survey had shown there was good support for the charging stations.
“A lot of our fleet vehicles are doing short trips around Wellington and EVs are perfect for that,” he notes.
“The Army is adopting new technology all the time and this trial will see how EVs can be used efficiently for our tasks while lowering our carbon footprint.
“A lot of our staff are looking at buying their own EVs and having the charging stations on camp is an incentive because it offers them more flexibility about when they can charge up.”
Dr Lee Bint, Defence estate and infrastructure sustainability manager, says the EV pilot scheme at Trentham is part of the NZDF’s sustainability roadmap.
“The Defence Force is one of the biggest employers and landowners in the country,” she explains. “As such we have huge responsibility to look after our people, buildings, land and taonga.
“From electric vehicles to efficient buildings, environmental stewardship and looking after our people’s growth and embracing our bicultural heritage, we want to make sustainability part of everything we do.”
Bint says because the NZDF has thousands of vehicles it can potentially make a massive contribution to reducing the country’s carbon footprint and play a vital part in the government’s goal of increasing the number of EVs.
The NZDF is already trialling four electric utility bikes for their suitability for use in the field, and electric carts are used at a number of bases. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is also replacing diesel passenger stair units with fully electric units at air bases around the country.
