The New Zealand Government has awarded $52.7 million in zero-interest loans to ChargeNet and Meridian Energy to accelerate the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure.
The funding will support the installation of 2,574 new charge points nationwide, more than doubling New Zealand’s public charging network from about 1,800 to around 4,550 by 2030.
Major expansion of national charging network
The investment is being delivered through National Infrastructure Funding and Financing, with ChargeNet receiving $37.7 million and Meridian Energy $15 million.
Together, the companies will co-invest $60 million to roll out 1,374 DC fast chargers and 1,200 AC chargers across metropolitan and regional locations.
ChargeNet chief executive Danusia Wypych said the expansion will support both short and long-distance travel needs.
“With over three and a half million charging sessions to date, our DC rapid chargers are ideal for quick top-ups on the go, getting drivers back on the road in as little as 20 minutes,” Wypych said.
“AC chargers are perfect for longer stays, such as at shopping centres and recreational venues, where vehicles can charge over several hours. So, the two work well together.”
Addressing infrastructure gap
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the funding is designed to address a gap between EV demand and charging infrastructure availability.
“Many New Zealanders have thought about getting an EV… but research shows that the lack of public chargers is holding many back from making the switch,” Bishop said.
New Zealand currently has one of the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD, with the Government targeting 10,000 public chargers by 2030.
Partnership model supports rollout
ChargeNet plans to deliver the new infrastructure through partnerships with retailers, councils and site hosts, with installations planned across major centres including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as regional areas.
About half of the new chargers will be deployed in metropolitan areas, with the remainder focused on improving regional coverage and reducing range anxiety.
The Government is also updating planning rules to make EV charger installations a permitted activity under the Resource Management Act, removing the need for consent in most cases to speed up deployment.
Loan model reduces public cost
Bishop said the zero-interest loan structure lowers the upfront cost to taxpayers compared with traditional grant funding.
He noted the average loan per charger is about $20,000, with repayments reducing the net cost to the Crown to around $10,000 per unit.
The funding comes amid rising fuel prices, which are continuing to drive interest in EVs due to lower running costs compared with petrol vehicles.
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