Funding to boost network
ChargeNet has received substantial co-funding from the government for three hyper-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charger projects in Waikato, Wellington and Queenstown.
Using one of the most innovative and cost-effective solutions on the market, it will install two 300kW hyper-rapid chargers at each site allowing charging for up to six electric cars at each site simultaneously.
The sites provide motorists with the fastest publicly available chargers in New Zealand. Specific EV models can charge at the 300kW hyper-rapid chargers six times faster than on
ChargeNet’s standard 50kW charging stations, enabling the newest generation of EVs to add up to 400km of charge in 15 minutes.
ChargeNet, which secured $879,875 via three applications, was one of 22 recipients of co-funding for projects approved under the final round of the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF) in its present form, which shared $6.5 million of government co-funding.
Steve West, co-founder and chief executive officer of ChargeNet, says: “Since the introduction of the clean car discount, we’ve already seen an increase in customer sign-ups and charging sessions.
“In establishing a hyper-rapid EV charging network, we are providing world-class charging speeds and directly addressing congestion from growing demand before it occurs.”
The continued development of the hyper-rapid EV charging network by ChargeNet will see 18 more hyper-rapid EV chargers constructed along major routes from Kaiwaka to Queenstown over the next 18 months.
At the moment, owners of electric cars can find hyper-rapid stations at Bombay and Taupo, with 19 more sites in the pipeline – Kaiwaka, North Shore, Waikato, Tauranga, Rotorua, Bulls, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, and Dunedin.
“With the government’s support, we are rolling out a world-class network of hyper-rapid charging stations, powered by 100 per cent renewable energy,” adds West.
“Projects such as these reduce household transport emissions and ultimately help New Zealand transition to a low-carbon future.”
ChargeNet manages more than 256 publicly available rapid chargers, including four 300kW hyper-rapid chargers powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.
These chargers can add up to 400km of driving range in 15 minutes as long as that vehicle is capable of charging at that speed. Currently, the Porsche Taycan is the fastest-charging vehicle in New Zealand at 270kW.
About ChargeNet
The ChargeNet NZ story began in 2015 as a few enterprising Kiwis with a dream of encouraging people to make the switch to EVs.
Through a mix of imagination, determination and “some pretty clever software”, it is now the largest privately owned EV charging network in the southern hemisphere with a network of more than 250 rapid charging stations available.
Visit www.charge.net.nz/map to find a rapid-charging station near you.
