Christchurch City Council starts electric-powered car share service

Kiwi fleet management company Yoogo to implement the service in November

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Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel with Yoogo general manager Kirsten Corson

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Canterbury organisations and residents will soon have access to a pool of 100 pure electric vehicles, only one of a few cities internationally to offer a 100 per cent electric-powered car share service.

The Christchurch City Council has selected Kiwi fleet management company, Yoogo, to implement the service.

Yoogo will initially launch 70 electric vehicles across three city hubs in late November with 30 additional vehicles to follow in February 2018 across ten locations in total.

“This new, innovative, 100 per cent battery electric transport service is an exciting development for Christchurch,” says Kevin Crutchley, the council’s resource efficiency manager and project lead for this city-wide scheme, in a statement.

New Zealand’s electricity is mostly generated from renewable energy so this electric vehicle offering will reduce our city’s carbon emissions, he says. “Using a transport service with zero tailpipe emissions will improve air quality and have positive health benefits for the residents of Christchurch.”

Christchurch Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns says joining the Yoogo programme aligns with the airport’s active interest in energy management and migrating its vehicle fleet to fully electric.

Yoogo will open hubs at Christchurch Airport, West End and Art Gallery using an A to A model. All the other hubs will be open by the end of March and next year Yoogo will move to an A to B model which means a vehicle can be dropped off at a different Yoogo hub.

Kirsten Corson, general manager of Yoogo, says Yoogo’s pure electric car sharing model breaks down barriers around cost and charging infrastructure making pure electric vehicles accessible and affordable.

“The pure electric car-sharing platform is a smart and sustainable way to get around town for businesses and everyday Kiwis,” says Corson. “Yoogo will deliver an experience that is easy, enjoyable and affordable. Cantabrians will pay for the time they use the car and Yoogo takes care of everything else. Users can simply book online and access vehicles via the Yoogo app or swipe card.”

Neal Barclay, general manager of retail at Meridian Energy, says the company is proud to be a foundation partner and Yogoo’s electricity provider to help e Cantabrians experience the benefits of pure electric transport.

“As New Zealand’s largest generator of renewable energy, Meridian is excited to work with like-minded businesses to increase the use of pure electric vehicles and reduce our country’s transport emissions,” says Barclay.”

The service will be available for Council, Ara Institute, Aurecon, Beca, Canterbury District Health Board, Chapman Tripp, Environment Canterbury, Meridian Energy, Tonkin and Taylor, Warren and Mahoney, and, Christchurch Airport, as well as for the general public.

The initial hubs around the city will include the West End, Lichfield Street, The Crossing and Art Gallery car parks, Ara Institute, Canterbury University, Papanui and Fendalton Libraries, Lyttelton Community Centre and Christchurch Airport. Pure electric vehicles at these hubs will include Hyundai Ioniq and BMWi3 vehicles.