The electric vehicle manufacturer has officially launched two services in South Dunedin, to the delight of the city’s electric vehicle owners.
According to Tesla’s website, Dunedin is home to one of its nine supercharging stations in the South Island, and one of three self-serve test-drive services “without Tesla staff on site” in the country.
Both services are listed as available from 49 Timaru St — a carpark outside the Nichol’s Pet Centre.
Nichol’s Property Group property manager Alison Devlin said the station of six superchargers had been open to the public since late October.
Tesla had been looking for a while for a site in Dunedin to complete its New Zealand network, and had been in touch with the garden, pet and landscaping company since the start of the year.
Tesla was a tenant on the land owned by Nichol’s and it was “pretty exciting”, she said.
The up to 250kW six superchargers can be used by non-Tesla electric vehicles with combined charging system (CCS) compatibility.
Dunedin Electric Vehicle Owners Group spokeswoman Pam McKinlay said it was “great news” that Tesla had expanded its network to Dunedin, which had closed the loop for drivers on the east coast heading south.
The group was contacted by Tesla which had made the test-driving service available to them a few weeks earlier than the general public.
Any charging infrastructure in town was good for Dunedin and business, Mrs McKinlay said.
“It brings people to Dunedin and the people who’ve got the bigger batteries have got more opportunities and places to charge, whether they’re coming here to visit relatives or attractions or whether they’re passing through.”
Nichol’s is not the only business in the city to welcome electric vehicle services recently.
Foodstuffs launched two 150kW hyperchargers at New World Centre City late last month — able to charge four vehicles at once — after announcing earlier this year it would build new charging sites at its supermarkets over the next four years.
Tesla did not respond to questions before deadline.
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
