A proponent of electrifying Queenstown says if anything good comes out of the global fuel crisis, it\u2019ll be the acceleration of the Whakatipu\u2019s transition away from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA) co-lead Josh Ellison says many households in the area are struggling with the spike in petrol and diesel prices, and the situation\u2019s unlikely to improve for some time.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We\u2019re spending about an extra half a billion dollars a month [nationally] on fuels at the moment, and that\u2019s if prices don\u2019t continue to go up further.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s been a wake-up call for a lot of people \u2014 electric vehicle (EV) companies have told me they\u2019ve sold out.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I think a lot of people would like to take energy into their own hands.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
QEA, which is an offshoot of national non-profit Rewiring Aotearoa, has a goal of making Queenstown the \u2018\u2018world\u2019s most electrified destination city\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
Through education, research, practical trials and group discount schemes, it\u2019s encouraging homes and businesses to electrify their appliances and vehicles.<\/p>\n
Ellison says it has focused much of its work on the impacts of a major earthquake on road access and electricity supply to the Whakatipu, and the benefits of generating more power locally.<\/p>\n
However, the same benefits apply in a fuel crisis.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The more energy we\u2019re generating locally, the more protected we\u2019ll be from these types of events, whether it\u2019s the price shock part or our access to energy.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Cost reductions from economies of scale in the manufacture of solar panels, batteries and EVs in the past few years now mean households can effectively have \u2018\u2018an oil well in your backyard\u2019\u2019, he says.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018New Zealand crossed a tipping point a few years ago where it\u2019s now cheaper, over the lifetime of a car, for it to be electric.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Electric vehicles often cost more up front, but that extra cost is now more than paid back over their lifetime.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Prices of new and used EVs have fallen significantly in recent years.<\/p>\n
Research by Consumer NZ has found 96% of EV owners would buy an EV again, Ellison says.<\/p>\n
That means there are about 80,000 EV owners in New Zealand \u2018\u2018who are either all crazy, or might be on to something\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s worth chatting to them about their experience . . . because it helps remove a lot of the myths about electric vehicles.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Similarly, a rooftop solar system costs money up front, but saves much more over its lifetime.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s encouraging Whakatipu residents to \u2018\u2018do the numbers themselves\u2019\u2019, and talk to a friend or a neighbour who has an EV or rooftop solar on their home.<\/p>\n
The QEA is also ready to help.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We\u2019re a non-profit, so we\u2019re not trying to sell anything.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We can go through their exact situation and what they\u2019re considering.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Ellison is also hoping the fuel crisis will encourage fresh thinking from politicians and policymakers.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I think we have a huge opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We\u2019re not an oil-producing nation, so we have no reason to have so much reliance on petrol and diesel.\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n