Electric car-sharing fleet a first for Northland retirement sector

Kerikeri Retirement Village is buying a fleet of electric vehicles like this Nissan Leaf. Photo / Supplied

Kerikeri Retirement Village is about to buy an electric vehicle fleet in a first for the Far North and for New Zealand's retirement sector.

The village will buy one Kia Soul and three Nissan Leaf zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) for use in a car-sharing initiative aimed at village residents, as well as an additional EV for staff use. It will be Kerikeri's, and the Far North's, first EV fleet.

The project is funded 50-50 by the Kerikeri Village Trust and a $67,250 grant from the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, which is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The first vehicle will arrive this month with the fleet due to be complete by April 30.

Kerikeri Retirement Village chief executive Hilary Sumpter said electric car sharing made "all sorts of sense" for residents, who typically travelled short distances.

Having a shared EV fleet gave them the option of not having to own and maintain a combustion-engine vehicle, many of which were under-used. Car-sharing would reduce residents' transport costs and increase energy efficiency at the village.

The fleet would be known as the Kerikeri Electric Vehicle Network for Seniors, or KEVNS.

"So people will be booking 'Kevins'. A little Kevin, a big Kevin, Kevin number four, etc,", Ms Sumpter said.

The village would also install a DC fast-charge station for EVs and was working with Northland Regional Council on the best location. The charging unit would be available for public use by July 31.

EV advocate Craig Salmon, of Paihia, welcomed the village's move.

''It's incredibly forward thinking. They're walking the talk and making a significant contribution to reducing emissions.''

It was the first car-sharing operation and first EV fleet he knew of in the Far North, and one of the first in Northland.

The village's decision came at a good time for EVs with charging stations due to be installed this week behind the Butler Centre in Kerikeri and near Marino Court in Kaikohe as part of a project by ChargeNet NZ and the EECA. By the end of the year the Far North will have 11 charging stations, Mr Salmon said.

Others are planned in Opononi, Kaitaia and Mangonui. The Northland-based Regional Electric Vehicle Utility Project (Rev-Up) is talking with iwi about charging stations at Pukenui and Waitiki Landing, which would make driving to Cape Reinga possible even in a low-range EV.

Northland's largest electric fleet belongs to the Northland Regional Council with 10 EVs. The district health board has six, the Whangarei District Council four and Northpower three. Top Energy has three hybrid vehicles.