Electric Vehicle Information Tour To Hit The Road

MEDIA RELEASE

Great EV Road Trip 2019

20 March 2019

NATIONWIDE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFORMATION TOUR SOON TO BE HITTING THE ROAD

An annual nationwide electric vehicle information road show will soon be hitting the road. This will give New Zealanders the length and breadth of the country 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.

Some Road Trip attendees have been so impressed by their EV experience that they have subsequently gone on to buy one.

Even though encouraging people to convert from ICE to EV is the Road Trip’s ultimate goal, another important aim is to provide a means for EV owners to get together.

“EV owners tend to be quite passionate about their vehicles so the Road Trip events are a great way for them to connect with other EV owners and also with the Better NZ Trust team.”

Renowned international EV advocate Chelsea Sexton will be attending the majority of events and will be available to answer any EV questions people may have.

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.

She encourages EV owners to come along to Road Trip events in their town or city: “There’s a real buzz when we all get together so come along and join in the fun!”

This year’s #LeadingTheCharge Great EV Road Trip will holding public events at the following centres:

• Rotorua (28 March)* • Tekapo (12 April) • Palmerston North (18 April)*
• Taupo (30 March)* • Geraldine (13 April)* • Napier (19 April)*
• Kapiti Coast (31 Mar) • Methven (13 April)* • Gisborne (20 April)
• Nelson (2 April)* • Christchurch (14 April)* • Mt Maunganui (21 April)*
• Westport (3 April) • Lyttleton (14 April) • Raglan (22 April)*
• Wanaka (4 April)* • Sumner (14 April • Auckland (24 April)*
• Te Anau (5 April) • Blenheim (16 April)* • Dargaville (25 April)
• Blackmount / Otautau (7 April) • Masterton (17 April) • Whangarei (25 April)*
• Mosgiel (9 April)* • Blenheim (16 April)* • Kerikeri (26 April)
• Dunedin (10 April)* (Test drives only at Otago Museum event) • Masterton (17 April) • Cape Reinga (27 April)

(* Indicates events where members of the public can do a test drive. At all other events people are welcome to have a ride in an electric vehicle.)

New chargers will be officially opened at the Kapiti Coast and Westport events, further extending New Zealand’s electric vehicle charger network.

ends

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