Jolting consumers’ awareness on tour
High-profile American electric vehicle advocate Chelsea Sexton says she does not own an EV.
Surrounded by different models of the noiseless vehicles on Tuesday in the car park behind Richmond Library, near Nelson, Sexton confessed she still had a petrol car.
‘‘I actually do a lot of volunteer time so I’m still saving for my first electric car. I won’t buy any more petrol cars but I’m sort of eking out my 15-year-old petrol car and then my next one will be electric.’’
Sexton was in the NelsonTasman region as part of the fourth annual Leading the Charge EV tour from Bluff to Cape Reinga, organised by Better NZ Trust.
Vehicles in the 2018 tour include the Hyundai Ioniq, BMW i3, Nissan Leaf and Tesla. A Renault Zoe was also part of the lineup at Richmond along with an electric campervan.
Sexton was also part of the 2016 tour and said both the number and variety of EVs in New Zealand had climbed in the past two years.
The Government also ‘‘seemed interested’’ in education and awareness of EVs, ‘‘supporting events like this, getting the word out, making brochures’’.
‘‘Product availability is challenge No. 1 and education and awareness is challenge No. 2 and that’s where the Government really seems to have gotten behind that effort.’’
Better NZ Trust chairwoman Kathryn Trounson said when the tour started in 2015, it involved three cars and four people. In 2018, seven vehicles and 10 people were taking part with other people joining for different legs.
‘‘It’s just a way of showing people that electric vehicles can go anywhere and everywhere,’’ Trounson said of the tour.
Trouson and her husband, Greg, got an EV three years ago – a BMW i3 first.
There was also a ‘‘feel good’’ factor because the cars were not pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The tour is due to end at Cape Reinga on April 3.