Hutt City Council charging ahead with more EV infrastructure for communities

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CouncilEnvironment & Sustainability

Published: 6 June 2023

Hutt City Council and Meridian Energy have collaborated to install 38 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt, ensuring that most residents now live within 3-4km of an EV charging station.

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry will host an event to celebrate the opening of these charging stations at Avalon Playground carpark on Saturday 10 June (10am to 12pm), where residents will be able to take an electric vehicle for a test drive.

The 20 direct current (DC) and 18 alternating current (AC) charging stations have been installed since December 2021 with co-funding from the Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

“As we front up to climate change, we need to make it easier for our people to reduce emissions as they get around our city,” said Mayor Barry. “That includes making it easier to use an electric vehicle across Lower Hutt by increasing our EV charging infrastructure.

“I’m pleased to be officially opening some of our new EV charging stations next weekend and encourage residents to come down to Avalon to check them out. There may be an opportunity to test-drive an electric vehicle too!”

Hutt City Council has invested $830,000 of the total $1.2 million cost, with $370,000 co-funded by EECA.

Jörn Scherzer, Head of Climate & Solid Waste at Hutt City Council, added: “Half the Hutt City Council fleet is already electric, and EVs are now a normal part of Council operations. We’re delighted to be doing this mahi in partnership with Meridian to enable the wider community to go electric.”

You can find these Hutt City Council electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at:

  • Seaview Marina
  • Moera Library
  • Walter Nash Centre
  • Kōraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub
  • Avalon Playground
  • Wainuiomata Community Hub

Other EV charging locations in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt include:

  • Ricoh Sports Centre
  • BP Melling
  • Queensgate Shopping Centre (rooftop carpark, next to the Level 2 entrance)
  • Dowse Museum
  • Countdown Wainuiomata
  • Petone PAK'nSAVE
  • Z Petone
  • Days Bay
  • Williams Park, Eastbourne Village

You can explore EV charging stations in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt and beyond here or at Plugshare.