WE’RE COMMITTING TO EVs EVtalk checks out how some of the New Zealand companies are doing with their commitment to electrify at least 30% of their vehicle fleets by the end of 2019. WSP Opus is among 30 of the country’s employers to agree on the deal. WSP Opus charges ahead

ew Zealand’s civil engineering and infrastructure consultant com- Npany WSP Opus is stepping up to the mark on sustainability. It’s nearly 400 vehicles – half in its pool fleet and the rest part of staff pack- ages – cover about nine million kilome- tres annually across New Zealand. Alternatives such as EV car share services like Mevo will also be rolled out this year to help reduce company vehicle mileage and emissions and possibly Ineke Brockie reduce demand on WSP Opus NZ’s fleet Fleet NZ, Brockie says, and are replaced over time. about every 3.5 years. “So, our EVs will start ABB Ltd. As about 55% of its carbon emissions becoming available on the second-hand Air New Zealand come from transport, company procure- market late 2020.” BMW ment manager Ineke Brockie says it’s a “no- Some challenges have been experi- brainer” to incorporate EVs to reduce those enced with the EV roll-out. Contact Energy emissions, with a 6.5% reduction in all its “In the first half of 2017 we rolled out Fonterra emissions targeted by the end of this year. three EVs to put our toes in the water. Then Foodstuffs North Island She says the fleet conversion is mak- after that we struck a number of challenges ing good inroads with the list of approved that slowed us down,” Brockie says. Fuji Xerox EVs likely to be extended. Hyundai’s new These included property issues where Fujitsu Kona electric cross-over has already been not all sites were suitable through such Giltrap Group added. “The focus is on 100% electric, with things as limited expiring leases, the cost of Hyundai New Zealand some PHEVs in the mix where need be.” getting power to the carpark, and landlords’ Reasons for including the Kona and PHEVs concerns. ISS Facility Services are the need to cover greater distances Power supply to carpark chargers at Kiwirail and to avoid running out of power. “Time is various premises may cost thousands of Leaseplan money in our business and long charging dollars, so the company needs to under- times en route is not generally going to be an stand the situation well ahead of time when OCS option at this stage,” Brockie says. considering a site, Brockie says. WSP Opus Charging site maps are provided and the Although the company has almost 400 Powerco company has added charging stations at its fleet vehicles, it is focussing on its pool Renault New Zealand offices that are visited by staff driving its EVs. passenger fleet of 100 vehicles. WPS Opus is now installing TransNet Only a portion of the pool fleet leases SG Fleet charging units at some of its 40 sites are expiring during the roll-out period, and Spark around New Zealand and plans to have at not all pool vehicles are suitable for EVs due The Warehouse least 30 charge units operating by the end to business demands of the fleet. of this year – one for each vehicle. With business restructuring, the return Transpower “We have installed a small number of of package vehicles and other business Turners Auctions charge units and currently favour the changes meant that expiring pool cars Unison TransNet Pulsar Wallbox units, especially often did not need to be replaced. for sites with multiple EVs due to the load “Consequently, we are looking at new Vodafone sharing capability,” Brockie says. strategies for 2019 to help us achieve our Waste Management “Each EV will have a charge unit allocated, goals,” Brockie says. These could include Watercare and of our 40 locations around the country offering EVs to staff package drivers as an WEL networks at least 15 will have one or more EVs by the option, extending the EV list and moving end of this year. Some others may also have a vehicles around the offices as appropriate Westpac charge unit for visiting EVs.” to help make it work.” Xero Vehicles are leased through Custom Continued on page 23

20 | EVTALK FEBRUARY 2019 | www.evtalk.co.nz NEWSTALK

EV motors the next big thing

V motors have lasted for over 100 city is just plain irresponsible. But large years on boats and their design numbers of thrusters close together By IDTechEx chairman Echanged slowly. reduces the deficit against a helicopter. Dr Peter Harrop Now some last only a few years and The Nikola fuel cell truck has six in- they are subject to rapid technology wheel motors, so it has superb traction change and an acquisition frenzy. and does not rip the tyres off when What is going on? accelerating - similar logic to the Tesla making its own motor for the Tesla 3? The new IDTechEx report, “Electric S adding a second motor. They all involve switched reluctance, Motors for Electric Vehicles: Land, Water, Yes, the proliferation of motors, potentially the lowest cost, most rugged Air 2019-2029” explains, and predicts in including in military boats and off-road motor-with-control. It has size and per- 10-year forecasts and roadmaps. transport for attack survival, means the formance advantages over other ways Firstly, the numbers are awesome. The motor market is growing even faster of avoiding permanent magnet price electric vehicle business is entering the than the EV market. hikes and temperature limitations. rapid growth part of the sigmoid growth Secondly, prices are often rising. You Yes, some have some small magnets curve of most major new technologies. cannot buy a starter-motor-generator for now, but the point is made. It is headed to create a more than for the 17 million-unit market for 48V So why do motors die so soon in $100 billion traction motor business in mild hybrid trucks and cars in 2029 for many applications compared to those 2029. Make it double that if you in- the same price as a simple single motor. 100-year-old electric boats? Tough duty clude the units in which the motors are Indeed, some of these vehicles will have cycles, and they are getting tougher. For increasingly integrated, such as wheels, two! You cannot buy four in-wheel example, huge drones up for 10 years axles or transmission. motors for the cars recently announced beaming the internet will not only need Premium pricing is increasingly if you want to pay the price of one 20kW/kg motors as the report details, possible because the motors not only inboard motor. they will need incredibly reliable mo- become motor generators much of the Thirdly, there is an acquisition tors - as will tethered drones generating time - they make new things possible. For frenzy and it has a pattern. With many megawatts from high level winds. example, going beyond four-wheel drive vehicle makers, from Toyota to the Billions of dollars of investment is go- to vectored steering stops construction small Zero Motorcycles, making their ing in - premium pricing awaits. Just the and agricultural vehicles ripping up roads own motor-generators as key enabling same as the monster unmanned trucks in and makes them smaller, lower cost and technology, the Tier One component totally automated deep mines this year. more capable, increasing sales. suppliers are often faced with stark The new IDTechEx report, “Elec- Up to 20 motor-propellers on aircraft consequences from their inadequate tric Motors for Electric Vehicles: Land, wings exploits the new principle of research and development. Water, Air 2019-2029” reveals which “distributed thrust”, so the wing can be From buying broad range motor motor technology innovators will be the half the size or take off using half the makers such as Remy, they are now next targets of those urgently seeking to distance. targeting specific up-and-coming tech- catch up and why. Multicopters planned for air taxis are nologies. Visit www.IDTechEx.com/Motors or notoriously inefficient and flying ones What do acquisitions SR Drives, CPT contact [email protected] for with only 30 minutes’ endurance over a and Visedo have in common with Tesla more information.

WSP Opus charges ahead

Continued from page 20 an area which will see a change in the used for business, home charge costs That can all make it challenging for future, Brockie says. would most likely be addressed as part the company to reach its 30% target. “However, the Kona and Mitsubishi of a “whole of life” cost so that drivers “We have to think of different ways to Outlander PHEV are contenders for won’t need reimbursing as costs will get there,” Brockie says. our business where there is a need for already be covered. Also, many company vehicles are longer distance driving, off road, or Information is provided about charg- used for infrastructure projects, need- more space for equipment. ing the EVs at each location and where ing to carry a number of people and “Currently, we have rolled out about public charging stations can be found. equipment, drive off-road or tow trail- 15 EVs that are the all-electric Hyundai “But we hope to do more this year ers, which requires a large proportion Ioniqs which have good range (about to help keep them more informed of the fleet to be utes. 200km) and can carry a reasonable load.” about the joys of driving EVs,” Brockie There are no utes available in EV Should the company make EVs avail- says. options in New Zealand, although it’s able to package drivers with vehicles

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