The ,Tesla Powerwall, currently in its second generation, has been a revolutionary product when it comes to energy storage. Not only has ,Tesla ensured that it looks aesthetic when added to homes, it has given people greater control over their energy use and brought us into a cleaner, quieter future of electricity. As power prices continue to rise consumers are becoming more aware of ways that they can save money on electricity. This has seen a rise in the installation of rooftop solar and use of tools, like the Powerwall, to improve the efficiency of how they operate. The Tesla Powerwall is ..read more

As Kiwi’s uptake of electric vehicles rises, thoughts now move to how to charge these vehicles. The best approach is to charge at home allowing drivers to start the day on a full charge, essentially making your home a ‘gas station’. With a range of options on the market from the wall plug that often comes with the vehicles which will trickle charge to wall mounted fast chargers, it is hard to decide what is best for you. As most homes are single phase, one limitation is the power. A 7.4kw fast charger will be the most that you will be able to install in a single phase home (most Kiwi homes ar ..read more

There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing the best EV charger for you. Whilst some depend on your electrical set-up (single or three-phase?), others are purely up to you. Smart or basic chargers, RFID cards or apps and of course tethered or socketed. Some people prefer the ease of driving up and plugging straight in with a cable that is already there, however, if you want to be ready to charge any vehicle that shows up, socketed can be better. Below we will outline the pros and cons of each option so that you can decide for yourself with all the information. Tethered Teth ..read more

The Clean Car Discount introduced fees for high emitting vehicles from April 1st 2022 with rebates remaining for zero or low emitting vehicles. These incentives to purchase vehicles with lower emissions are part of the overall plan for New Zealand to be net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As transport is the biggest contributor, the pressure is on to reduce this sector in particular. Vehicle manufacturers are also supporting this by producing more electric vehicles, many aiming to only produce EVs by 2030. Below are the top 10 vehicles for Kiwis based on 2021 sales. Using rightcar.co.nz we can ..read more

A solar panel's life cycle is generally around 30 years before it will need to be replaced, 25 of those years are usually covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Even after this time, the panels may still be creating electricity but the efficiency drops as they age until they are no longer producing enough energy. The degradation of solar panels is between 05.% and 0.8% per year however as technology improves this is becoming even less and warranty lengths are increasing to reflect this. As we move to the end of the panel's life it is time to consider how these inefficient panels are disposed ..read more

Often electric vehicles are considered to still be ',dirty', even though they don't create any emissions themselves. This is because of the fossil-fuel-generated electricity that is used to power them. Luckily here in New Zealand, we run on at least 80% renewable energy throughout the year, sometimes more. However, it is still topped up by the burning of coal, gas and oil that releases carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This has seen many Kiwi’s take the power into their own hands by installing solar panels. It allows them to be relatively self-sufficient, just topping up with electricity ..read more

Two new zero-emission heavy vehicles have joined the New Zealand fleet this week. Fonterra and NZ Post announced their new arrivals that will be used to cut their operating emissions. The Fonterra Milk-E Tanker is a fully electric truck that will be collecting milk from farmers in the Waikato. The NZ Post XCIENT hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck by Hyundai is the first of its kind in the country and will be out delivering parcels around the North Island. Both of these significant Kiwi businesses are committed to making a conscious effort to improve their sustainability. Their adoption ..read more

Like many Kiwi’s, you’ve done your research, worked out the savings from going electric and now you’re ready to buy! Or, maybe you’re at the start of the process and just want to wander by a yard and jump in an EV for the first time. There’s a whole bunch of reasons Kiwis are looking to make their first move to electric which include lower running costs, environmental consciousness and the Clean Car Discount (CCD). The main reason we believe you’ll make the shift though is the driving experience which is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Not even a super-complex German engineered gearbox c ..read more

Businesses are having to constantly change and innovate in today's world to remain profitable, relevant, and sustainable. The push from consumers for more sustainable alternatives is strong, with the government adding pressure too. The increased cost of operating has become noticeably apparent since the start of the pandemic which is leading more businesses to look into alternative ways of doing things. One of these things is solar energy. Below we outline 5 benefits that businesses have to gain from adopting solar: 1. Improved sustainability Of course, the most common reason businesses look ..read more

Electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar has unveiled their newest model - the Polestar 3. The electric SUV will be officially announced at its global reveal in October 2022. Although, we won't know many of the details until this date, here is what we do know. Polestar aims to release a new model every year for the next 3 years which starts with the Polestar 3. We have our fingers crossed that this lineup includes something sporty such as the O₂ or Precept concept cars that they have unveiled previously. The Polestar 3 will see Polestar moving into the SUV space for the first time. This is a g ..read more