A milestone in New Zealand’s journey towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has begun as Hiringa Energy along with investors and partners, unveiled Australasia’s very first zero-emission green hydrogen refuelling network – Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand (HRNZ).
Under the watchful eye of the Minister of Energy and Transport, Hon Simeon Brown, this initiative begins an ambitious plan to tackle the environmental challenges faced by the heavy transport sector, responsible for 25 percent of the nation’s transport emissions despite comprising merely 4 percent of the total vehicle population.
Hiringa has joined forces with Waitomo Group and TR Group and their collective efforts have resulted in three strategically positioned refuelling stations in Wiri (South Auckland), Te Rapa (Hamilton), and Palmerston North, with a fourth station in Tauranga currently progressing as an integral part of the innovative Tauriko SH29 roading infrastructure. Covering 95 percent of the heavy freight routes across the North Island, including the bustling “Golden Triangle” between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga, this far-reaching green energy network is poised to transform the landscape of heavy transportation.
By commencing operations, hydrogen-powered trucks can now pave the way towards a zero-emission future, signalling a profound shift in the realm of heavy transport. The newly established refuelling stations operate solely on clean, renewable energy and boast cutting-edge technology, facilitating swift refuelling processes for hydrogen-powered heavy transport vehicles, including trucks and buses, which can now refill with green hydrogen in a mere 10 to 20 minutes.
The establishment of this trailblazing network has garnered support from the New Zealand Government, which has provided a loan of $16 million to facilitate the development. Additionally, key investors, including the notable fund K1W1 from Sir Stephen Tindall and international partners Mitsui & Co, Ltd and Green Impact Partners, have infused growth capital into the project, underscoring its significance on a global scale.
New fast charge network set to simplify EV charging
Plug and Save, a new innovative 100 percent Kiwi-owned electric vehicle charging network is set to shake up New Zealand’s EV charger network by simplifying how electric vehicle users can charge their cars on the road.
Launching with three rapid charger locations in the Auckland and Waikato regions, Plug and Save eliminates one of the key hassles associated with current charging networks. With Plug and Save, there is no need for an account, app or charging fob. Instead, EV users can simply pay to fast-charge their vehicle as they would for fuel or any other traditional purchase, using any payWave compatible EFTPOS, debit, or credit card.
Plug and Save can even accept ApplePay or GPay through a payment-enabled mobile phone. For those who want to use an app, Plug and Save chargers can be activated using the Nova Energy app.
Plug and Save uses cutting-edge DU-Power chargers, which are highly efficient and fast. They can charge two vehicles simultaneously at a combined rate of up to 160kW, so potentially charging a Tesla Model 3 standard range from 20-80 percent in under 20 minutes.
The Plug and Save team is taking expressions of interest now from those wanting to host a Plug and Save unit at their site.
“It is a great way to attract new customers from the growing pool of electric vehicle users,” Plug and Save managing director Deon Cooper says. “And with our clever technology, the permitting and installation process is simple and cost-effective.”
Current Plug and Save charger locations include: Auckland – North Shore, 281 Albany Highway, Rosedale. Hamilton, 860 Te Rapa Road, Pukete.
