Bulls charges into EV future with arrival of ChargeNet hyper-rapid charger

Bulls charges into EV future

Bulls can now add “charge-a-bull” to its list of punny monikers, with a new ChargeNet hyper-rapid EV charging site now live!

The new charging site – which is across the road from the previous site – is conveniently positioned close to both State Highway 1 and State Highway 3 and will allow you to quickly add hundreds of kilometres of range in the time it takes to stop for coffee or do some quick shopping, getting you back on the road sooner.

The installation expands ChargeNet’s existing charging offering in Bulls, tripling the number of charge points to meet increasing consumer demand. Bulls has hosted a 50kW charging station since October 2019, serving more than 2,000 users during its lifetime.

Conveniently located at Te Matapihi Bulls Community Centre in the town centre, the site provides charging for up to 3 vehicles and includes a 300kW charger and a 50kW charger. The site is powered by 100% renewable electricity that is sourced from wind, hydro, and solar.

The rapid charging station was jointly funded by ChargeNet and EECA, with funding from Round 8 of the government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) and supported by Rangitikei District Council.

The hyper-rapid charger is the first 300kW charger to be installed in Manawatū-Whanganui. It is the newest of ChargeNet’s hyper-rapid charging hubs, joining our hyper-rapid sites in Kaiwaka, Bombay, Taupō, and Rotorua, as well as an additional 260 rapid DC charge points across the country. Our 300kW chargers are Aotearoa New Zealand’s fastest publicly available EV chargers.

We know that confidence in access to fast charging reduces range anxiety, removing one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. The support of the Rangitikei District Council means there is no risk of the Rangitīkei region being left behind in the EV transition.

The site will link the region to the growing ChargeNet network across the central North Island and is a critical site for travellers along State Highway 1.

ChargeNet is working with Rangitikei District Council to ensure the charging site appropriately reflects the Rangitīkei region. The site will feature artwork by local artist Delwyn Hakaria of Ngāti Parewahawaha and Ngāti Kauwhata lineage. We expect this to be installed on the charger ahead of a public opening on 28 February 2023.

The new charging site is live, so if you’re passing through and want to charge, steer yourself into the Te Matapihi Bulls Community Centre in the town centre for an improved, quicker charging experience.