Z Energy rolls out charging stations for electric vehicles

Petrol station operator Z Energy says six rapid-charge stations for electric vehicles will be installed in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch by the end of February.

It will cost approximately $5 to $10 to "fill up" at the stations, which draw up to 400 volts of electricity.

Each charge will take around 10 to 25 minutes compared with eight hours for a conventional slow charge, the company said.

One of the challenges facing the growth of electric vehicles is the time required to charge them, as well as limited range before they have to be re-charged.

In Auckland, the stations will be installed at Z's sites in Botany, Beach Rd and Auckland Airport, while the Wellington stations will be located at Z's outlets in Vivian St and Petone.

The Christchurch station will be located at Z Moorehouse Ave.

"These stations provide another option to keep our customers moving regardless of the vehicle they drive or the fuel they need," said Z's sustainability manager, Gerri Ward.

Z is also commissioning a $26 million investment in the country's first commercial-scale biodiesel plant at Wiri, Auckland.

The facility would be able to convert inedible tallow - beef fat - into 20 million litres of biodiesel per year, the company said.

Z's charging stations are being by supplied by Charge.net.nz.