Evnex makes effort to ‘create better world’

Buy NZ Made praises Evnex, the Christchurch-based smart charger manufacturer, for its strong values and transparency, writes Dave McLeod.

Buy NZ Made is showcasing Christchurch company Evnex for its commitment to providing a new era of charging through its Kiwi-made ‘‘smart’’, efficient and sustainable EV chargers.

‘‘Being showcased by Buy NZ Made is a huge accolade and we are very proud to be recognised in this way, which reinforces the approach and direction we’re taking,’’ said Evnex founder Ed Harvey.

The Evnex story began in 2014, when (after converting his own trusty Honda Accord into an electric vehicle), Harvey set out with a mission to create a smarter solution for EV charging in New Zealand, a mission he has duly accomplished.

Dedicated to minimising carbon emissions as well as remaining accessible and affordable, Evnex smart chargers offer EV owners the option to use renewable energy where available Leading in-app features support EVs to be charged at the cheapest and most efficient times, with a ‘‘plug in and forget’’ approach.

And, the company has also recently introduced its Electricity Pricing tool, designed to make it simple for EV owners to manage and track charging costs to gain an accurate picture of in-home charging.

‘‘We believe EV owners should have the power to minimise the impact on their bills as well as New Zealand’s electricity network and to use renewable energy to charge their cars,’’ Harvey said.

He said Evnex remains committed to keeping its manufacturing operations onshore, as it’s something that’s important to the company and also supports other local New Zealand suppliers.

‘‘Our circuit boards are manufactured in Marton, our enclosures are manufactured in Whanganui, and our metalwork and final assembly all happens in Christchurch. Using other local businesses not only helps boost the economy, but also reduces the environmental impact of the production process,’’ he said.

Harvey said that futureproofing EV charging is an important and pressing issue for New Zealand’s infrastructure, hence their move to produce smart EV chargers.

‘‘The decisions we make now will help manage the anticipated charging demand on the grid and minimise any increase in electricity costs to upgrade it. We are working with the Government, lines companies and electricity retailers to help make smart charging a core part of New Zealand’s EV network,’’

Buy NZ Made executive director Dane Ambler said Evnex was showcased because of its strong values and transparency in manufacturing.

‘‘In a world where almost every tech product is outsourced from China at low cost and enormously high waste, it’s amazing to see such an innovative business making a conscious effort to create a genuinely better world,’’ he said.

‘‘Let’s be clear, Evnex doesn’t have to manufacture in Christchurch, but it has chosen to have full control over its outputs, support locals into jobs and create some of the highest-quality smart chargers available. Mass export and import of technology across long distances is no longer sustainable. Evnex is disrupting this model and paving the way for technology businesses in New Zealand.’’

More than 2500 Evnex chargers have now been installed in residential and commercial locations around New Zealand and Australia. And the fact that Evnex is the only EV charger manufacturer licensed and certified by Buy NZ Made, just adds to its success.