1 May 2024 – ChargeNet, Aotearoa New Zealand’s only nationwide EV charging network, has today announced plans to build a EV charging hub in Kaikōura, a critical piece of infrastructure for EV-charging on the South Island’s SH1. Construction on the 1,000m2 site at Kaikōura is expected to begin in September 2024.
Designed to meet the growing demand for EV charging, and with an installed capacity of 450kW, the charging hub will be able to charge up to 6 vehicles at one time, including a charging bay with an accessible layout, and a bay suitable for campervans and vehicles with trailers. The site is expected to be complete by the end of 2024, and will see the installation of three 150kW chargers, which can simultaneously add 300km of range within 45 minutes* – enough to power most EV journeys to Christchurch, Nelson, or beyond.
The charging hub will be powered by 100% renewable, climate positive certified electricity that is sourced from wind, hydro, and solar, through ChargeNet’s energy partner Ecotricity.
“Kaikōura is a key transit hub, as well as a significant tourist attraction for local and international travellers. The data already tells us that charging speed matters and 39% of our customers prioritise high power output when selecting public charging. The new charging hub will be ideally positioned to support charging demand and meet our customers’ needs, providing fast and convenient charging for drivers on the go,” says ChargeNet Chief Operating Officer, Martin Miles.
“The new charging hub is a part of our plan to double our network to 600 charging points – we are already rolling out a variety of hubs and destination chargers around the country that are set up so capacity can be ramped up to accommodate increasing demand and utilisation,” he says.
ChargeNet is making significant headway on its expansion plans, having added 52 additional charging points to its network already so far this year, including the installation of two 300kW hyper-rapid chargers at Raeward Fresh Harewood, near Christchurch Airport in March. The new charging hub at Kaikōura will complement the existing network along the eastern and northern coasts of the South Island, with high powered charging available in Blenheim, Nelson and Christchurch.
The project is co-funded by the Low Emission Transport Fund, administered by EECA (The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), receiving an investment of $560,000.
ChargeNet has also commenced construction on its largest charging hub ever, a 10-point charger at Tauriko Crossing in Tauranga, which it expects to be operational within the next 10 weeks.
“We strive to continuously improve our charging network to meet the needs of all our customers. There are three key considerations when building charging hubs like these: location, timing, and providing the right speed. Planning for future growth means we can scale these sites relatively quickly,” says Martin.
“We are preparing to rapidly increase the scale of our network development, with a coming announcement to highlight a significant tranche of new charging locations planned for construction within the next six months.”
For more information on ChargeNet and to find a fast-charging station near you, please visit charge.net.nz/map.
