Smart Planning Needed To Meet EV Road Trip Demand By 2030

New research has mapped New Zealand’s EV journey charging needs through to 2030 — the chargers drivers rely on when taking road trips around the country.

The analysis, done by DETA Consulting, shows around 609 additional 50 kW public journey chargers will be needed nationwide by 2030 to meet demand on the busiest travel days.

Electricity Networks Aotearoa Chief Executive, Tracey Kai, says the findings are encouraging.

“We do need more chargers. But the data shows we don’t need more everywhere. In many parts of the country, there are already enough fast chargers to meet projected demand in 2030.”

There are some travel routes that are already well serviced by journey chargers like:

• Wellington Auckland via SH1
• Auckland Whakatane
• Wellington Palmerston North
• Blenheim Dunedin via SH1

But there are some travel routes requiring significantly more charging like:

• Whakatane Gisborne
• Whangārei Cape Reinga
• Christchurch West Coast via SH7 & SH73
• Tākaka Wānaka via SH6

“We’re not facing a blanket shortfall of journey chargers. But there are some places around the country that need to be prioritised. Some of these places will be more expensive to connect than others, and these locations could benefit from government support,” says Kai.

The modelling examined state highway traffic flows, EV uptake forecasts and existing fast charging capacity. It focused on light vehicle journey charging — not destination charging in towns and cities.

The work found:

• 443 additional 50 kW chargers are needed in the North Island.
• 166 additional 50 kW chargers are needed in the South Island.
• If larger chargers (like 100–300 kW) are installed, fewer units would be required to meet the same demand. If 100 kW chargers were used to represent the demand, 336 100 kW chargers would be needed to meet peak demand by 2030 (243 in the North Island and 93 in the South Island).

Lines companies also provided indicative connection costs for potential sites. On average, connection costs were around $60,000 per site in the North Island and $63,000 per site in the South Island — highlighting why careful site selection matters.

This research helps ensure investment is targeted where it is genuinely needed. It reduces the risk of overbuilding in areas that are already well served and helps focus attention on the routes that matter most,” says Kai.

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