Frequently asked questions

Below are some answers to commonly asked questions regarding the location, use, and safety of our EV chargers.

What types of EV charging stations have been installed?

There are two types of public charging stations we’ve installed in central Canterbury and Christchurch to encourage EV use. The first type is what’s commonly known as a rapid charger. DC chargers supply up to 50kW and can usually add about a 100 km range within 30 minutes. The second type of charging station is known as a destination charging station. Destination charging stations deliver electricity at a slower rate to the EV than a rapid charger does. They typically add 20 to 40km per hour depending on the vehicle. For more info see: How long will it take to charge my EV? - ChargeNet

An EV doesn’t need to be fully charged to start – often public chargers are used just to boost an EV’s battery to allow the owner to get to where they need to go that day. Fully charging at home overnight is commonly undertaken by EV owners using cheaper night time electricity. At home EV owners can simply plug into any standard three pin plug, or purchase a charging unit that can be permanently installed on the garage wall.

Will it cost to use the chargers?

EV drivers are required to pay to use public chargers to cover cost of electricity supplied. Rapid charge costs can be found at ChargeNet.

From 1 March 2023 the remaining Orion AC standard charging stations will align to that same pricing structure.

Can all EVs use these chargers?

Unfortunately, many different types of EV plugs and sockets exist on the world market. So the type of EV you have will determine which public chargers you may be able to use. We’ve endeavoured to install chargers that cover all of the most common brands of EVs available in New Zealand.

Do I need my own cable to use the chargers?

For safety reasons, the rapid chargers have specially designed cables attached which simply plug into your EV. This is due to the high amount of electricity delivered by these chargers. For destination charging stations, in line with New Zealand guidelines,cables aren’t attached so you’ll need to provide your own cable that can plug in to a type 2 socket. If you don’t have a cable, they can be purchased on the Internet relatively easily and cheaply. The type of cable you need depends on the type of EV.

What do I need to do to use the chargers?

To use a charging station you’ll need to:

  • register and create an account at charge.net.nz
  • after creating an account, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can be ordered which will allow you to use any of our chargers
  • if you need to use a charger before your RFID tag has arrived, or if you don’t have your RFID tag handy, you can still activate a charger with your phone:
    • browse to charge.net.nz/my/station and click the green Start Charge icon next to the appropriate station. Stations are listed in order from north to south
    • or download the plugshare app onto your smartphone and “check in” at the station. You must have your plugshare email address listed on your charge.net.nz account
    • or TXT message. Simply text Charge [Station Number] to 226. You must have your mobile number listed on your charge.net.nz account for this option to work
  • finally if you have any problems, just phone 0800 2CHARGE (0800 224 274) and the charge.net.nz team can activate the station for you.

Depending on who owns an EV charger there will be different terms and conditions of use. If you are using a charger that refers you to this website for terms and conditions, these are the terms that apply to the use of that charger.

How do I use the chargers?

Our charging stations are fairly easy to use. It’s a lot like using a petrol pump only cheaper and less polluting.

  1. Park your EV so the charge socket on your car is within reach of the charger, and turn off your EV.
  2. Follow the instructions displayed on the charger, until charging begins.
  3. If you want to stop charging before your EV is fully charged, simply select stop on the touch screen or push the stop/red button. Or if you want a full charge, wait until the charger indicates this has occurred.
  4. When charging is finished, simply unplug the cable. Some EVs do not allow the cable to be removed from the vehicle’s socket unless either all doors are unlocked or until the ‘unlock charge connector button’ on the vehicle’s key ring has been pressed.

Can I use the outside chargers if it is raining or the cable plug is wet?

Yes. Outside chargers are fully designed for use in the rain and for situations where the cable and plug may get wet, say, from being left lying in a puddle.

What if there's an emergency?

In the unlikely event of an emergency, push the emergency STOP button or turn the isolator switch to OFF. An EV charger will have one of these on it. Only do this if it is safe to go near the charger.

Please call our Customer Support team on 0800 363 9898.

What if the charger is visibly damaged?

The chargers are designed so that if the charger or tethered cable is damaged, no power should be running through it. If you see any damage please call us on 0800 363 9898.

What if the charger isn't working?

If the charger isn’t working, it’s most likely that either the emergency button has
been accidentally pushed or the isolator switch has mistakenly been turned to
OFF. After determining that the situation appears safe, release the emergency
button or turn the isolator switch back to ON. The charger should then return to
normal operation. If it doesn’t, please call us on 0800 363 9898.

How can I find out where other chargers are located and if they are available to use?

We recommend you use the Plugshare.com website or app. This shows all
our chargers and the majority of other chargers available for public use in
New Zealand. For many EV chargers, the website also shows whether a charger is currently available for use or not.  The Plugshare map is also shown here

How do I recognise an EV charger?

All public EV charging stations throughout New Zealand display the approved EV charging symbol shown below. The symbol was developed by the Christchurch City Council and approved by the NZ Transport Agency and can be found along state highways and local roads throughout the country.

EV icon blue

What is the most cost-effective way to charge an EV?

The cheapest and easiest way is to charge an EV overnight at home. It also reduces the need for a bigger electricity system thereby saving the environment. 

To find an EV charging station near you, please visit EV charging.

Visit evdb.nz to find out more about the different types of electric vehicles currently on the market.