New player for EV market
A new player is looking to shake up the New Zealand EV charging network, with Australian-based company Jolt entering with a different business model to existing charging network operators, that includes a limited amount of free charging for users.
Starting in July, Jolt will roll out out its first chargers around New Zealand installed at Mitre 10 stores in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this year. The company says its national partnership with Mitre 10 will see the first sites go live in July with plans for ‘‘hundreds of chargers to be rolled out over the coming years New Zealand wide’’.
Drivers using the Jolt chargers will have access to 7kwh of free charging in a 24-hour period, which Chris Monaghan, Jolt’s New Zealand country manager, says will be good for about 40 to 50 kilometres of range.
After the 7kwh threshold has been reached, users will be charged a flat rate of 42 cents per kwh for energy used, with no per minute charge.
Jolt chargers are 25kw units housed inside double-sided digital panels, with retractable charging cables with both CCS2 and CHADEMO plugs. The digital displays will be used for messaging and advertising, which Monaghan says is where the majority of Jolt’s income from the venture will come from.