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The first trial of the Leaders motorcade movement – a motorcade of newly purchased $1.7 million Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles for the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting was undertaken in October last year. MELINA ETCHES/23103001
A $1.7 million fleet of electric cars bought by the government were not compatible with the intended charging station at Te Aponga Uira (TAU), forcing authorities to install two at the Office of the Prime Minister. Al Williams reports.
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Respondingto a Cook Islands News article on the lack of public interest in purchasing theelectric vehicles bought by the government for the Pacific Islands ForumLeaders Meeting last year, TAU corporate services manager Danny Vakapora said:"The existing EV chargers at our office have adaptors along with the newlyinstalled ones and we can confirm that our chargers have been compatible withthe newly purchased EVs from the beginning."
CookIslands News was earlier informed that the newly purchased electric vehicleswere incompatible with the intended charging station at TAU. Consequently, fourcharging stations were installed in Rarotonga, two at TAU and two at the Officeof the Prime Minister, the newspaper was told.
Lastyear, TAU purchased and installed seven electric vehicle chargers around theisland for use by the vehicles transporting VIPs during the Pacific IslandsForum Leaders Meeting in November.
Vakaporasaid the existing charging station at TAU was already in place and "was notintended to charge the PILF EVs as is asserted in the paper".
"Thenew chargers were initially installed by TAU at The Nautilus Resort and OPM andrelocated following the Leaders Forum."
Thechargers at the OPM are currently disconnected but are intended to bereconnected, he said.
Twenty-five(25) Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles costing $1.7 million were bought by thegovernment. Seventeen (17) of the vehicles have been allocated as replacementvehicles for the government vehicle fleet, and eight have been made availablefor sale to the public
InParliament last week, Opposition leader Tina Browne of the Democratic Partysaid that one of the new electric vehicles that was given to her was parked atthe Opposition Office because it wasn''t working.
"Nobodyis interested in buying these cars"
A smarter, faster and more reliable charging experience for all Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers is on the horizon after Manx Utilities announced it is to upgrade the Isle of Man''s public charging infrastructure.
Designed to ensure key locations across the Island are equipped with charging stations for the long-term and using the latest technology, work on the network is due to begin next month, starting at Manx Utilities'' Ballacottier HQ, the Comis Hotel and on Loch Promenade.
Rapid chargers already in place at the Sea Terminal and Tesco stores in Peel, Port Erin & Ramsey will not be replaced, but will be integrated on to the new platform.
As part of its ongoing commitment to future-proof the Island''s EV infrastructure and make it easier and quicker than ever before for drivers to charge their vehicles, Manx Utilities has partnered with Evolt Charging to manage and expand the network. It follows the withdrawal of the current supplier, Pod-Point, from the public charging market.
Manx Utilities believes the transition, which is due to be completed by the end of the year, will maintain and significantly enhance the quality and capacity of charging stations.
The majority of existing single-phase 7kW charge points will be upgraded to three-phase 22kW units where possible, allowing for faster vehicle charging and better accommodation of the growing number of EVs on the road.
The new Evolt infrastructure will include user-friendly features, including RFID card access for easy, contactless charging, compatible across both the UK and Europe. Multiple charging options will also be available, such as Pay-As-You-Go via Web-Pay or contactless payment at DC Rapid chargers, and app-based charging through the Swarco eConnect App and Pod-Point App, during the transition to the Evolt eConnect App.
In addition, card readers may be installed on sites where multiple charge points are in place, such as Shaw''s Brow multi-storey car park in Douglas.
Chair of Manx Utilities, John Wannenburgh MHK said: ''Manx Utilities is dedicated to providing an EV charging network that is not only robust and reliable but also prepared to meet the future needs of the Isle of Man with sufficient charging points sited throughout the Island. With this upgrade, we are confident that our infrastructure will continue to support the growing number of EV drivers and contribute to a more efficient sustainable future for all''.
''Of course, there will be assistance and support available for all customers, including a free-phone service which will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week from November.''
During the transition, some charging points may be temporarily out of service. Any outage times and locations will be notified on the Manx Utilities website and the Pod-Point App.
Technology advancements have allowed Manx Utilities to deploy higher-powered units with load balancing capabilities that adapt to different vehicles'' charging speeds. This upgrade includes 22kW charge points, offering faster charging and reduced wait times, while advanced monitoring will enable real-time performance tracking and quick fault resolution
MU is committed to sustainability, and the transition to the new provider is designed to maximise the value of our existing infrastructure. Pod-Point charging posts in good condition will be redeployed for Manx Utilities fleet charging, while others will be returned to Pod-Point for recycling.
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