Electric vehicle shuttle costs ratepayers hundreds of thousands

Friday, 21 September 2018

One of 20 Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles added to Auckland Transport's fleet in late January at a cost of around $50,000 each.

An electric vehicle shuttle to Auckland's Devonport ferry is costing ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, but will sting commuters only $2.50 to $3.50 a ride.

Auckland Transport is funding a one-year trial of the EV ride-share scheme, as part of efforts to reduce traffic on notorious Lake Rd, running into and out of the peninsular suburb.

'Devonport is the perfect place to trial this technology as there are only two ways out of the area, via the very congested Lake Road or on the ferry,' Auckland Transport media advisor James Ireland said.

'We [AT] also expect that by getting more people onto the ferry we can reduce congestion in the area and by giving people an alternative to driving to the terminal, we can free up parking spaces in the [Devonport] town centre.'

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An electric vehicle shuttle to the Devonport ferry is one of many technology solutions AT hopes will ease pressure on Lake Rd, running into and out of the peninsular suburb.

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The ride-share EV shuttle will take commuters to and from the Devonport ferry.

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Due to start in November, residents within 3 kilometres of the ferry terminal would be able nominate a pick-up spot for the on-demand service, using an app, called AT Local.

Mayor Phil Goff is an enthusiastic proponent of electric vehicles, including the council EV he drives.

A one-way journey, to or from the ferry terminal, was expected to cost between $2.50 and $3.50.

The ride-share shuttle would use three electric cars, which were already in AT's fleet and cost around $50,000 each when they were purchased earlier this year.

In addition, AT had purchased three new vans that could hold six passengers at $69,000 each, Ireland said. One of the vans would be made wheelchair accessible.

The additional cost of the contract for running the service was commercially sensitive, Ireland said, because AT would be evaluating whether to roll this out to other locations.

AT did a two-week trial in 2017 and received feedback that showed that there was sufficient demand for it to work in Devonport.