National tour stops in Timaru
The future looks bright for electric vehicles, as a dozen made a brief stopover in Timaru.
The Better NZ Trust made the stop-off in Timaru on Friday as part of a nationwide roadshow.
The trip, which will take about two weeks, will finish in Cape Reinga.
This is the third time the trip has taken place, with a dozen people participating in the journey.
Trustee Kathryn Trounson said people were offered free rides around the block in both the Tesla and Hyundai Ionic vehicles.
‘‘As soon as people get in, they notice the difference,’’ Trounson said.
Trounson has been driving an electric vehicle for the past three years. It cost her more than $100,000 to import her Tesla vehicle into the country.
The increase in the number of charge stations across the country, including in Timaru, has made it more Trounson said.
Trounson said as the Government moved towards a lowcarbon economy, the demand for electric vehicles would rise.
‘‘There is a goal from the Government to reach 64,000 electric and hybrid vehicles by 2021.
‘‘So far, there are only 7000 in the country, but that number is only going to grow as people realise the convenience. Everyone who had a test drive in one has been blown away.’’
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