Orion invites the public to EV event

11 April 2019 at 8:27 am

The Great EV Road Trip will be visiting Orion on Monday 15 April, giving locals the opportunity to get independent advice about every aspect of electric vehicle (EV) usage and ownership.

The Great EV Road Trip involves a group of EV owners and enthusiasts driving their cars the length of the country, stopping off in towns along the way to provide test drives and share their EV knowledge and experience with the public.

Orion General Manager Customer and Stakeholder, Paul Deavoll, is joining the road trip from Fairlie, driving the new Hyundai Kona, the latest addition to the company’s fleet of 24 EVs or hybrid vehicles.

“It is a chance for me to put the newest car in our fleet through its paces on the open road, and see for myself its 400km plus driving range at work."

Orion is hosting a public event when the road trip passes through Christchurch, at its centre in Wairakei Road.

Great EV Roadshow

“We invite anyone who has an interest in EVs to come down and talk to some of the most knowledgeable EV enthusiasts in the country.

“If you are thinking of buying an EV in the future, or just curious, it is a great opportunity to test drive one for yourself, and talk with some very well-informed people, with no obligations,” he said.

Greatly improved battery storage technologies, coupled with an ever-expanding nationwide charging network, means that electric vehicles can now go anywhere in New Zealand.

The Great EV Road Trip will be visiting Orion in Christchurch:

9am to 10am
Monday 15 April 2019
565 Wairakei Road
Burnside


Six good reasons to use an electric vehicle:

  1. They are better for the environment and our economy: Compared with their non-electric equivalents, battery electric vehicles have 80% reduction in CO2 emissions when used in New Zealand; 60% fewer CO2 emissions across the vehicle’s life-span; and no tailpipe emissions.
  2. EVs save money and are increasingly affordable: Users typically save thousands of dollars a year on fuel, with running costs being the equivalent of only 30 cents per litre of petrol when charged at home overnight. Maintenance costs are lower because they don’t have an internal combustion engine.
  3. They are a pleasure to own and drive:  Owners find them smoother, quieter and more responsive than non-electric cars.
  4. EVs have better performance than internal combustion engine vehicles: Electric vehicles are beginning to surpass non-EV vehicle performance (e.g. an electric vehicle won the overall Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018).
  5. Range is much less of an issue these days because an extensive – and growing – public charging infrastructure is now available throughout New Zealand. EV drivers can now charge at more than 220 public charging stations across New Zealand, and more than 90% of our highways have a public fast charger every 75km.
  6. The choice of EVs is growing all the time: There are now more than 12,000 registered EVs on our roads, with a growing range of new and second-hand vehicles to suit a range of budgets.