Electric vehicle 'opportunity charger' launched

Dunedin (Wednesday, 14 September 2016) – The Dunedin City Council and Otago Chamber of Commerce have marked International Drive Electric Week by today launching an electric vehicle charger at the Great King Street car park building.

The 'opportunity charger', a joint project between the DCC and the Chamber, allows vehicles to be topped up with electricity over several hours while drivers are away doing other things like shopping or at hospital appointments.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says there's a growing interest in electric vehicles and providing the necessary infrastructure will further encourage their uptake.

"The cost of charging an electric vehicle is equivalent to paying around 30 cents a litre for petrol and driving one produces around 80% fewer carbon emissions than a petrol or diesel car.

"Electric vehicles are therefore not only friendlier on the environment, but they deliver a smarter, cleaner economy as well," says Mr Cull.

Otago Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Dougal McGowan says the installation of the opportunity charger is an exciting initiative for the whole community and one that the Chamber was happy to support.

"We know that companies are continually looking at their costs and the benefits of how they do business. There are already Dunedin businesses that are using electric vehicles to good effect around town.

"As technology improves and more infrastructure is developed, there will be more uptake by business and options for longer-distance operations," says Mr McGowan.

The opportunity charger at the Great King Street car park follows Delta's installation of a rapid charger at the Filleul Street car park earlier this year.

This work is delivering on the city’s Energy Plan 1.0, with infrastructure for electric vehicles one part of the ‘DUN EV’ action to support the uptake of electric vehicles in Dunedin.

International Drive Electric Week (10-18 September) is a worldwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles.

The New Zealand Government's Electric Vehicles Programme has a target of doubling the number of electric vehicles in New Zealand every year to reach 64,000 by 2021.

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