Holiday parks encourage electric vehicles

Holiday parks encourage electric vehicles with new charging stations

Holiday parks in New Zealand are putting their money where their mouth is with the installation of 54 electric vehicle chargers in 24 holiday parks around the country, encouraging the use of electric vehicles.

14 holiday parks in the North Island and 10 in the South Island are now offering 22kw AC chargers, which provide relatively fast charge for vehicles in lieu of installing expensive DC charges.

The initiative is a joint project with Tourism Holdings Ltd (thl), and has been part funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). thl has been creating electric campers for some time now, forming its first electric vehicle fleet.

The chargers will mean charging options are available for travellers in any electric vehicle, including cars and motorhomes.

“We see this as an important step in providing services for our visitors, whether they be international or domestic,” says Fergus Brown, Chief Executive of Holiday Parks New Zealand.

“As the available electric vehicle fleet in New Zealand grows, many kiwis will be using these vehicles to get away for a holiday. Holiday parks want to be part of a sustainable approach to operating in the tourism industry, and it will be encouraging to see these chargers used.”

Representing over 300 holiday parks and counting 75% of the commercial holiday park sector as members, Holiday Parks New Zealand has signed up to the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment and encourages and educates its members on how they can contribute to sustainable operating practices.

Key facts:

• The holiday park sector provides 36% of New Zealand’s commercial
• In the year ended April 2018, holiday parks provided 8.01 million guest nights.

• International visitors are responsible for 34% of guest nights in holiday parks, and domestic visitors 66%.

• While staying at holiday parks, guests contribute over $1 billion in direct expenditure to local communities.

• Approximately $612 million (60%) of the expenditure is contributed by domestic travellers, with the balance of $405 million (40%) contributed by international travellers.

• Expenditure by international visitors contributes directly to New Zealand’s export earnings.

ENDS

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