More charging stations for e-cars urged

We need more electric car ports, says Mighty River Power.

A Bay-wide network of charging stations for electric cars has been proposed by electricity generator Mighty River Power.

The company has asked the Bay's transport planners to officially recognise the growing number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the roads.

Mighty River's planning and policy manager Stephen Colsen was responding to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's 2015-25 Land Transport Plan.

Mr Colsen said the company was committed to converting 70 per cent of its vehicle fleet to electric cars or hybrids by 2018.

He said the uptake of electric cars by motorists was, to some extent, linked to the installation of charging stations which would allow people to drive greater distances. The plan's investment focus should include charging stations for electric vehicles.

Mr Colsen said there was already a robust import market for used electric cars and he expected the trend to rapidly increase as people recognised the environmental and economic benefits of converting to electric cars.

Mighty River wants the plan to officially reduce the reliance on traditional fossil fuels.

"As technology continues to advance, there are viable alternatives to the use of traditional petrol and diesel-operated vehicles.

Other issues raised at a recent hearing of submissions on the plan included:

-The AA seeks a higher priority for the Katikati bypass. "Katikati is a major road block and safety issue for SH2."

-Te Puna Heartland Inc complained that the "very busy" section of SH2 north of Tauranga was being quietly pushed down the list of priorities.

-Tauranga Chamber of Commerce wants to shorten the timetable to four lane Turret Rd/15th Ave from over 11 years to a new target of seven to 10 years or preferably four to six years. It fears that once the Hairini underpass was built, a bottleneck would be created at the bridge.

-Western Bay District Council seeks more slow vehicle passing lanes on SH36 from Tauranga to Rotorua via Pyes Pa, and for the SH2/Omokoroa Rd intersection upgrade to become a prioritised safety project.

-Youngson Rd resident Roslyn Gilmour seeks safety improvements to the "nerve wracking" right turn onto SH2 towards Bethlehem.