Collaborative B2B efforts
Collaborative efforts in bringing faster EV charging to the Wellington region.
Moore Wilson’s partnered with Wellington-based tech startup Thundergrid to offer faster charging for EV drivers in Wairarapa, installing a dual-vehicle rapid charging station available for the wider Wairarapa community at the Moore Wilson’s Masterton Dixon Street store.
There are a multitude of options out there when it comes to EV chargers, and as it goes with technology, it’s getting better all the time. We are committed to being at the forefront of the evolution of technology in this space and ensuring consumers and the national electricity grid is considered at every step of the journey. ~ Jonny Parker, CEO, Thundergrid.
Thundergrid created a submission on behalf of Moore Wilson’s to the government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority). LETF co-funding enabled them to purchase a high-speed commercial charger. The Fund supports adopting low-emission transport technology and infrastructure to accelerate the decarbonisation of New Zealand transport.
Thundergrid CEO Jonny Parker says the demand for this faster charging technology has been felt worldwide.
“There are a multitude of options out there when it comes to EV chargers, and as it goes with technology, it’s getting better all the time. We are committed to being at the forefront of the evolution of technology in this space and ensuring consumers and the national electricity grid is considered at every step of the journey.”
Parker commends Moore Wilson’s for thinking about the bigger picture for their customer network. “Moore Wilson's is committed to helping their customers switch to cleaner transportation. They are actively helping to increase the availability of greatly needed charging infrastructure across our towns and cities. They host DC (fast) chargers in Wellington and Porirua stores which they have installed out of their own pocket, and are accompanied by solar panels at their stores too.”
“We are pleased to support our customers' journey to electric and have been working closely with the Thundergrid team to install and manage charging stations.” - Moore Wilson’s, Julie Moore.
The 75kW Tritium RTM75 EV charger, which has been installed at Moore Wilson’s Masterton, can charge two EVs at the same time and will share power evenly. The charger will soon balance power delivery with the recently rebuilt Moore Wilson’s store as part of a wider vision, which is what Thundergrid’s technology can do for the entire national grid. “If we are smart about managing the EV charging load on the existing grid, which our software can do, we can avoid costly infrastructure upgrades which fall on all energy users, including those of lower-income households,” Parker says.
Although consumers now face another option across the nation’s EV charging network, Parker says Thundergrid’s strategy aims to help integrate smart EV infrastructure harmoniously with the national grid. “We feel customers’ pain. Having multiple FOBs, logins, payment details, the works. We are actively collaborating and exploring partner roaming networks and paywave technology. This will take time to form, but we are making headway to raise the tide for EV charging, making things easier for the everyday consumer. Please bear with us as the industry matures.”
Parker says the well-thought-out, bigger-picture approach shared by Thundergrid, Moore Wilson’s and EECA will ensure a more stable, efficient and sustainable national charging network for all EV drivers. “Seeing another option without knowing what its difference is, is understandably a little confusing. However, we are working behind the scenes to unite networks to make accessing EV chargers easier for all. It’s time for us to celebrate the advances we have made here with forward-thinking partners such as Moore Wilson’s, and with funding from EECA. We are proud of the work that we are leading to ensure better, faster EV charging options for all.”