Chargemaster Limited is working with world leaders to bring market-leading technology to New Zealand to support renewable electricity as a transport fuel.

The Government aims to transform New Zealand from fossil fuel dependence for transport to locally generated renewable electricity, and Chargemaster is focused on leading electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

After extensive research, Chargemaster selected Netherlands-based company Heliox for heavy vehicle charging (bus, mining, port vehicle charging), and Austrian-based Keba for residential/public/fleet/commercial charging. Heliox is an established European market leader with more than 85% of the total electric bus charging market, while Keba is a proven AC charging solution for light vehicles, with more than 35,000 chargers sold globally. Keba is also an approved charger by more than half a dozen leading EV car manufacturers.

New Zealand is showing leadership, with Tranzit Coachlines announcing they will roll out new electric buses in Wellington mid-2018. The technology is proven in Europe, with more than 1300 electric buses delivered or on order in 25 European cities. In China in 2015 there were more than 170,000 electric buses in operation, with 4,887 purely electric buses in Shenzhen City alone. By the end of 2017, all of that city‘s buses will be fully electrified, in accordance with municipal government requirements.

While the European market is one of the leading regions for electric bus research and development – including vehicle technology – the Asia-pacific region is home to some of the biggest producers of both buses and batteries.

Chargemaster is led by former electricity industry senior executive Nigel Broomhall, who has more than 16 years industry experience in New Zealand, Australia and Europe. He is supported by chairman Mark Gilbert and two directors.