Nationwide Electric Vehicle info tour to visit Methven for first time

Matt from Ashburton District

An annual nationwide electric vehicle information road show will be visiting Methven on Saturday 13 April for the first time, giving locals the opportunity to get independent advice about every aspect of electric vehicle (EV) usage and ownership.

The #LeadingTheCharge Great EV Road Trip is run by the Better NZ Trust, supported by the Energy and Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA).  Better NZ is a charitable trust whose mandate is to create environmental, financial and health benefits for all New Zealanders through education, and by assisting in the adoption of zero carbon renewable energy technologies. 

At present the Trust is focusing on actively supporting the growth of a vibrant EV community in New Zealand and the Road Trip is the biggest event on the Trust’s calendar.

Better NZ Trust Chairperson Kathryn Trounson says The Great EV Road Trip has become a popular annual fixture for electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts nationwide and – importantly – for people who don’t own an EV but would like to know more.

“It is a fun and easy way for people to find out everything they ever wanted to know about electric vehicles and to get a chance to drive or ride in a variety of electric vehicles for free.

“We love it when people experience an electric vehicle for the first time because their response is typically ‘wow, that’s amazingly quiet and smooth’,” she says.

Mrs Trounson says the Great EV Road Trip will be visiting large and small centres nationwide and has extended its reach into a number of previously unvisited smaller towns this year because greatly improved battery storage technologies, coupled with an ever-expanding nationwide charging network, means that electric vehicles can now go anywhere in New Zealand.

The Great EV Road Trip will be visiting Methven as follows:

3 pm to 4 pm

Saturday 13 April 2019

Outside the Blue Pub

2 Barkers Road

Six good reasons to use an electric vehicle

1.     They are better for the environment and our economy: Compared with their non-electric equivalents, battery electric vehicles have 80% reduction in CO2 emissions when used in New Zealand; 60% fewer CO2 emissions across the vehicle’s life-span; and no tailpipe emissions.

2.     EVs save money and are increasingly affordable: Users typically save thousands of dollars a year on fuel, with running costs being the equivalent of only 30 cents per litre of petrol when charged at home overnight. Maintenance costs are lower because they don’t have an internal combustion engine.

3.     They are a pleasure to own and drive:  Owners find them smoother, quieter and more responsive than non-electric cars.

4.     EVs have better performance than internal combustion engine vehicles: Electric vehicles are beginning to surpass non-EV vehicle performance (e.g. an electric vehicle won the overall Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018).

5.     Range is much less of an issue these days because an extensive – and growing – public charging infrastructure is now available throughout New Zealand. EV drivers can now charge at more than 220 public charging stations across New Zealand, and more than 90% of our highways have a public fast charger every 75km.

6.     The choice of EVs is growing all the time:There are now more than 12,000 registered EVs on our roads, with a growing range of new and second-hand vehicles to suit a range of budgets.

For more information, visit:

Web:               www.leadingthecharge.org.nz...

Twitter:           @LTCBetterNZ

Facebook:      @LeadingTheCharge