Seeking charging solutions

Contact Energy is piloting a special programme for charging EVs to help ease pressure on the national electricity grid as the number of low and zero-emissions vehicles on New Zealand’s roads increases.

The company says the move could also reduce the cost of charging vehicles for consumers in the long term.

According to the Electric Vehicle Database’s market stats, more than 82,500 battery EVs and 37,300 plug-in hybrids were in use in New Zealand at the end of April 2025.

Contact notes that research from Powerswitch shows charging an EV can increase a household’s energy use by up to 30 per cent. 

It says this risks putting a strain on the grid during periods of high energy demand, such as first thing in the morning or in the evening.

To help tackle this, Contact is piloting an EV Demand Flex programme. This will use technology to determine when energy demand is low and then automatically charge customers’ EVs. 

If there is a sudden increase in electricity demand, the technology will stop charging the vehicle until demand subsides.

Michael Robertson, Contact’s acting chief retail officer, says: “At scale, this technology would allow customers to charge their vehicles when demand is low, potentially helping them make savings on their power bill. 

“It will also help ease pressure on the national grid, support New Zealand’s energy supply, and reduce reliance on energy generated by fossil fuels.

“Pausing charging an EV, even for a short period of time, contributes to reducing high electricity demand, ensuring electricity goes where it is most needed.”

The pilot began on June 3 and may run up to a year. Contact explains this will deliver valuable information about people’s charging behaviours and enable it to fine-tune the EV Flex programme. 

If the scheme is successful, Contact will look at expanding the programme.