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Public EV charging network

Charging an electric vehicle in New Zealand has never been easier.

There are thousands of public electric vehicle charging stations across New Zealand. You can find them in public areas like supermarket car parks, shopping malls, campgrounds, tourist spots and beaches. Most major petrol companies have also installed EV chargers at many of their sites, making charging your electric vehicle on the go easier than ever.

WAYS TO PAY FOR PUBLIC EV CHARGERS

Depending on the public charger, there are two primary ways to pay for charging your EV.

  1. Debit or credit card. Most public EV chargers allow drivers to pay wirelessly, similarly to how you’d pay at a self-serve petrol station.
  2. Some other public EV charging stations will offer or require you to download an app for ease of payment with a registered account.

Not all EV charging stations will require you to register, and for the most part you can pay as you go.

AC VS DC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS

There are two different types of public electric vehicle chargers you’ll find available on New Zealand roads: AC and DC chargers.

AC stands for alternating current, and DC stands for direct current.

The power that comes directly from our Kiwi electricity grid is AC power, but our EV batteries can only store DC energy. Because of this, all AC power needs to be converted into DC power. That’s where the difference between AC and DC charging comes in – whether the conversion takes place inside or outside your electric vehicle.

ac chargers

All electric vehicles have in-built converters that convert the AC power to DC power. When you plug into an AC charger, your car will automatically change the power to DC for you, so it can be stored in the safely battery. This is why AC chargers take a little longer to charge your vehicle than DC chargers.

AC chargers are the best option for regular use and are often free to use as well. Because they take longer to charge, we’d recommend using these while you do day-to-day tasks, like grocery shopping.

Charge time: Public fast AC chargers (AC: 7-22kW) take approximately 4 hours to fully charge an EV*

DC chargers

DC chargers are impressively effective because they’re designed to already convert the energy from AC to DC before the power even reaches your car. The power will be fed into your battery directly, taking less time to charge fully and requiring less work from your EV.

DC chargers are ideal for when you need to quickly top up your EV battery and get back on the road. That said, we wouldn’t recommend using public fast chargers too frequently as over time they will begin to wear the battery down.

Charge time: Public rapid DC chargers (DC: 50kW+) take approximately 45 minutes to fully charge an EV*

*Charge times are approximate and vary depending on factors such as how full your EV battery is and the type of charger.

CAN I CHARGE MY EV IN THE RAIN?

Yes! It’s completely safe to charge your electric vehicle in the rain, providing the equipment you’re using is designed for New Zealand conditions and safely installed.

While it’s well known that the combination of water and electricity can be dangerous, EV manufacturers and engineers have thought through this problem to ensure that there are several layers of safety built into your EV. For example, no current will flow unless there is a connection and communication between the car and the chagrin station – essentially, there will be no power conducted until the car is completely plugged in.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I RUN OUT OF CHARGE?

With most EVs boasting an average driving range of 300km, and the frequency of public EV chargers along NZ roads, with proper preparation it’s unlikely that you’ll run out of battery range on your journeys.

However, if you do find yourself in a tough spot with no battery in your EV, the good news is there are a few solutions.

  1. AA Roadside Rescue EV Charging Breakdown Vans

Recognising the increase in EVs on our roads, AA Roadside Rescue recently added help for EV owners with the launch of mobile EV charging Roadservice vans. The vans are fitted with lightweight EV chargers which, in 20-25 minutes, will enable enough charge to drive up to 10 kilometres so AA Members can reach their home or a nearby charging station if they break down on the roadside.

Currently, the vans are available in Auckland and Wellington, with a further van to be introduced to Christchurch later in 2022. To use these, you’ll need to be an AA member.

 

2. Roadside towing services:

If you’re not an AA Member or Roadside EV Vans are not available, the next best option is to have your EV towed to the nearest public EV charging station. Many roadside insurance providers such as State, ASB, AA Roadside Rescue and NZRA offer this service.

Tips for using a rapid EV charger

  • Most fast charging stations will have the standard charging cable and plugs already for EV owners to use. Standard chargers usually require you to bring your own cable.
  • You just attach the cable to your charging port, enter payment to the station and wait for your car to charge.
  • Some fast charging stations, like those installed by Chargenet, have apps and other features to allow ease of payment with a registered account.
  • Don’t use fast chargers all the time; it could wear your battery down.
    If you’re in a hurry, just charge to 80%. The last 20% of the battery takes longer to charge.
  • Many plug-in hybrid EVs can’t use fast chargers. For these cars, you can still use the slower public chargers.

CHARGERS MAP

This map is sourced from Plugshare. It is set to your current location by default but feel free to zoom and pan around to see more.

Please view the map in landscape orientation for the best experience.

INDUSTRY LEADING RESEARCH

Through whitepapers and articles compiled by scientists and other experts we aim to distribute accurate information about EVs, their benefits and the issues around nation-wide implementation.

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