When Steve West first discussed the idea of creating an electric vehicle (EV) charging network in New Zealand he was met largely with scepticism and bemusement. Six years on, ChargeNet is arguably the reason why New Zealand has one of the world’s highest number of charging points per capita, beaten only by “global leaders” like Norway (where three out of four cars sold in 2020 had a charging socket, either as pure electric or plug-in hybrid).
The reality of ChargeNet was born from the dream of a road trip. Steve always had a passion for cars and the environment and so, having bought a Tesla, he decided to drive it from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Not only did he quickly learn that there was no infrastructure to support this, he also discovered there were no plans for any charging network on the horizon. Co-founding the business with his own money, Steve took a leap of faith; there were only 500 EVs registered in New Zealand at the time.
ChargeNet’s first 50kW charging station went “live” in October 2015 at Jacques’ Four Square in Kaiwaka. The initial goal was to have 100 rapid-chargers in place by the end of 2019. In fact, this target was far exceeded. The current total is 220, with a new charger installed at the rate of about one per fortnight. And, EV registrations have increased to close to 25,000.
In August 2020, at a cost of nearly $500,000 and with support from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, ChargeNet introduced the country’s fastest EV chargers at the Bombay Service Centre. These 300kW hyperchargers can add hundreds of kilometres of driving range in just 10 minutes and are capable of charging three EVs simultaneously. “It’s one of the most common complaints we hear: longer journeys aren’t practical because it takes too long to charge or there is queueing en route,” says ChargeNet’s marketing and communications manager, Bailey Gorst. “These hyperchargers should definitely help to overcome this barrier.”
Whilst Covid-19 was a hindrance to the hypercharger project, with worldwide logistics being significantly affected, it nonetheless gave the ChargeNet team an opportunity to focus on future plans and strategy. The roll-out is well underway again now, with about 20 new charging stations planned for 2021, a combi- nation of 25kW, 50kW and 300kW.
Covid-19 had another major effect on the network too. “While the country was at Level 4, we saw a 90 per cent drop in network usage, as vehicle movements were heavily restricted. But it’s been wonderful to see Kiwis out and about exploring our beautiful country, and there was a massive year-on-year increase in charging sessions across the fast-charging network over the Christmas period,” she confirms.
ChargeNet has always been based in North Harbour, first in Ride Way and now in Piermark Drive, and, in just three years, has grown its team from four to 16. One of the key business challenges is the same today as it was in 2015: knowledge gaps. “What we hear quite often is people are reluctant to switch to an EV because there aren’t any charging points!” smiles Bailey. “The cost of vehicles is also an issue. Hopefully, with the government announcing those ambitious targets for 2032, there will be some price incentives to help more Kiwis make the change.”
Bailey confirms that the government’s targets have certainly created “a buzz” and a “sense of urgency” for some businesses. Could the resulting increase in enquiries for installs potentially cause its own problems? Might there be too much demand? Bailey says not. “80 per cent of the energy in New Zealand comes from renewable sources, and, if the smelters were turned off, the other 20 per cent would be immediately available. The country is well-placed to further harness hydro, wind and solar power – and be what we already claim to be: a clean, green country.”
To start and grow a business like ChargeNet requires the courage to take a long-term view. Once a site has been earmarked, levels of demand and supply have to be investigated. Some sites require council consent, and others are installed with the full knowledge that they may never pay for themselves, but are never- theless an essential part of the overall network – for example, Arthur’s Pass, which might be used once or twice a day.
In November 2020, Steve West received the Sustainability Superstar Award which is presented to “a person who has gone above and beyond to bring about sustainability change in Aotearoa New Zealand”. In typically modest fashion, Steve said: “It’s a great honour to be recognised at the Sustainable Business Awards. Many of us are making personal sacrifices for the greater good. As a personal passion, I’m just glad to have helped drive the growth of electric vehicles in New Zealand.”
Awards and Accreditations:
Sustainable Business Networks 2020: Sustainability Superstar Award
Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards 2017: Innovation in Energy Award
EECA Awards 2016: Z Energy Transport Award
NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards 2016: Communicating Sustainability
EVCCON 2015: Electric Vehicle Evangelist of the Year
