New Zealand Government to Accelerate the Promotion of Public Charging Piles

The New Zealand government website recently reported that New Zealand Transport Minister Bishop and Energy Minister Watts jointly announced on the same day that the New Zealand government will revise its co-investment and cooperation model with the private sector to accelerate the promotion of public charging stations for EVs in various places.

According to the report, by the end of 2024, there will be 1,378 public charging stations for EVs in New Zealand. The vehicle-to-charger ratio is about 84:1. The government aims to increase the number of charging stations to 10,000 by 2030, raising the vehicle-to-charger ratio to 40:1 to eliminate consumers' "range anxiety" and make EV ownership as accessible as possible.

Bishop said that EVs currently account for more than 2% of New Zealand's light vehicle ownership and are expected to reach about 11% by 2030. Under the current circumstances, private-sector investment in charging infrastructure remains sluggish due to perceived insufficient demand, while the growth of charging demand is limited by the lack of public charging piles. This "chicken-or-egg" dilemma is hampering the expansion of public charging networks, necessitating government intervention. The government will learn from the successful model of the ultra-high-speed broadband plan and move to a more mature and commercial procurement model.

Bishop said that up to NZD 68.5 million has been reserved to support private operators in co-investing in public charging infrastructure in the form of concessional loans. Compared with traditional grants, loans will be implemented faster, while reducing complexity, costs and risks, and leveraging private sector investment in public charging facilities in advance. At the same time, maximizing private-sector investment will also ensure greater outcomes with fewer taxpayer money. Concessional loans will cover up to 50% of project costs and will be awarded through a competitive joint investment bidding process at a zero interest rate for a maximum period of 13 years. Applicants can submit a package of proposals for the construction of multiple charging station clusters.