CASE STUDY

“…they quickly figured out that we knew what we were doing and left us to our devices.”

With electric vehicles (EV) growing in popularity, so too, are public EV charging stations. While it is possible to charge electric vehicles at home, drivers often need to power up mid journey, especially when travelling cross country.

The installation of a new EV charging station located in Taupō will not only serve local EV drivers but also stand as a crucial stopover point in the central North Island, offering essential support for drivers on long trips. Incorporating EV charging infrastructure into urban planning initiatives promotes sustainable transportation options and encourages environmentally conscious communities.

After receiving a recommendation from a developer Off-Grid Electrical had worked with previously, the EV company tasked with the new EV charging station approached Off-Grid Electrical to request pricing. Off-Grid Electricals’ submission was successful and installation of the new EV charging station, located in Kokomea Village Centre, commenced in September 2023.

The charging station was the largest of its kind at the time of installation, standing as New Zealand’s largest fast charging EV station with nine superchargers. The project kicked off seamlessly with the contractor leaving the Off-Grid Electrical team to do their job, Matt Pilkington, Off-Grid Electricals’ Project Manager, explaining “…they quickly figured out that we knew what we were doing and left us to our devices”.

In a project spanning approximately three months, Off-Grid Electrical executed a rapid turnaround, overseeing various tasks. Responsible for managing subcontractors, the Off-Grid Electrical team handled everything from civil work to road marking and installation. Additionally, Off-Grid Electrical enabled the installation of a transformer in conjunction with the utility company, ensuring its successful connection.

There were some challenges regarding earthing due to unfavourable ground conditions/materials in Taupō, which posed conductivity issues. Consequently, Off-Grid Electrical developed a specialised earthing design, carefully navigating around existing structures such as a car park to ensure no damage was caused and compliance was adhered to. Matt Pilkington commended his team’s adept problem-solving skills and efficient solutions, enabling the project to stay largely on schedule and within budget.

Building on a solid foundation of past work together, Off-Grid Electricals’ collaboration with the contractor was smooth and straight forwardand they praised Off-Grid Electrical for being the first EV charging station installation in the country that they didn’t have any issues with. Matt Pilkington reinforced this, mentioning

“their commissioning techs said it was one of the tidiest installation they’ve seen.”

Sean McCullough, Director at Off-Grid Electrical expressed his satisfaction with his teams’ work saying,

“working with these global brands to deliver a quality product for their customers is something our team can be proud of.”

The installation of the new EV charging station in Taupō serves as a pivotal stopover point, providing essential support for EV drivers on long trips. Off-Grid Electrical has played a significant role in promoting sustainable transportation and creating environmentally conscious communities. Their successful collaboration and solutions have set a benchmark for high-quality EV charging station installations in the industry.

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