Jesse McInnes, 7, cuts a ribbon to launch the Crimson Coast EV highway around the Far North with, from left, EV advocate Craig Salmon, EECA board member Phil Heatley, Far North Mayor John Carter and Steve West, of ChargeNet NZ. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Jesse McInnes, 7, cuts a ribbon to launch the Crimson Coast EV highway around the Far North with, from left, EV advocate Craig Salmon, EECA board member Phil Heatley, Far North Mayor John Carter and Steve West, of ChargeNet NZ. Photo / Peter de Graaf
A network of electric vehicle charging stations around the Far North will be the ''envy of the world'' by the end of the year, an EV advocate says.
The Crimson Coast EV Highway was officially launched in Kerikeri last Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and a chance to ridein a range of EVs, from the tiny Mitsubishi i-MiEV to the Tesla Model X with its falcon-wing doors and $170,000 price tag.
The star of the show was the Tesla Model X, an electric SUV with falcon-wing rear doors. Photo / Peter de Graaf
The Crimson Coast project brings together a large number of players, including the Far North District and Northland Regional councils, Top Energy and ChargeNet NZ.
The goal is to create a network of chargers spaced 50km to 60km apart around the Far North, making it possible to drive to Cape Reinga and have charge to spare to explore side roads in even the lowest-range EV.
Checking out a Tesla Model X are Riverview School kids, from left, Fergus McPhee, 9, Stella Bowron, 8, Lilah Smith, 8, Samantha Hansen, 8, Austin Smith, 9, and Enviroschools teacher John Bowron. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Charging stations are now operating in Kawakawa, Kerikeri, Kaitaia and, as of last week, Kaikohe.
By the end of the year more will follow in Waipapa, Coopers Beach, Houhora and Waitiki Landing. Other sites on the wishlist for future funding are Waipoua, Kohukohu, Opononi and Mangamuka, opening up the west coast and the SH1-SH10 loop, while a charging station at Oakura would allow EVs to travel the back road to Russell.
Paihia EV advocate Craig Salmon, who is coordinating the project, said it would be ''an incredible network the whole world will envy''.
The distance between stations would make driving to the Cape feasible even in a second-hand Nissan Leaf with a range of 80km to 100km. The newest Leaf had a range of 240km and Teslas considerably more.
As well as reducing carbon emissions, Mr Salmon said EVs made New Zealand less dependent on imported fuels, and the savings in fuel costs meant Northlanders would have more money to spend elsewhere.
ChargeNet NZ founder Steve West said one of the stumbling blocks to increased EV uptake in the Far North had been a lack of charging stations in strategic locations. The Crimson Coast project would go a long way towards solving that issue, he said.
Apart from council staff time the charging stations come at no cost to Far North ratepayers.
Half the cost is covered by grants from the government's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). ChargeNet NZ, a private company, is paying the rest.
After the launch, held in the Countdown car park in Kerikeri, the EV convoy headed to Kaitaia to open a charging station at Te Ahu. From there they were due to head to Cape Reinga.
Other vehicles on display in Kerikeri included the Hyundai Ioniq, BMW i3, Tesla S, Nissan eNV-200 van and Renault Zoe.
