Meridian opens EV charging station with innovative setup

Meridian has opened a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Springs Junction on New Zealand's South Island, enhancing the region's charging infrastructure.

This site will address a gap in the South Island's EV charging network, making it easier for drivers commuting between Christchurch and Nelson. According to Meridian's Principal Product Manager, Tim Calder, the project required unconventional methods due to the remote location of Springs Junction and its local electricity network constraints.

"The remote location of Springs Junction and nature of its local electricity network meant our normal way of delivering chargers went out the window, because the secure electricity supply we need just isn't there," Calder explained. "The local network is at capacity for about 19 hours a day, and during that time there's only about 4kW available at this site - barely enough to boil a jug, let alone charge an EV! But, there is plenty of capacity between 11pm and 4am, which gave us a clever idea and led to the breakthrough that made this project possible."

To overcome these challenges, Meridian has employed three 120kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units, utilising recycled Nissan Leaf batteries to store energy when the local network demand is low. These stored energies are then used to power the chargers during the day.

Given the unique setup, charging at Springs Junction may not be as consistent as other locations. To assist drivers, Meridian has established a landing page providing real-time updates on the site's availability. This webpage will inform drivers of the available kWh in the BESS units, helping them decide whether to charge at Springs Junction or choose an alternative route.

Calder commented on the site's operation, urging EV drivers to use the limited kilowatts prudently: "We're urging drivers to only take what they need while there are limited kilowatts available. This is a long way from a normal EV charging set-up, but it's a great example of Kiwi ingenuity and doing what's needed to get the job done for our customers."

He also thanked the community for their patience, stating, "This project has taken longer than expected, and it's really tested the thinking of our team as they've worked to overcome challenges along the way. We appreciate the understanding and patience of the community while we delivered this solution. We hope it works well for EV drivers, and we'll be keeping a close eye on the site and driver feedback to see whether we need to make any further changes."

Springs Junction is among several locations where Meridian is working to introduce solutions tailored for remote areas to support EV drivers' needs throughout the South Island. In 2022, Meridian received co-funding from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) to address five critical, challenging sites in the South Island.

With two projects now operational, efforts continue to enhance power supply and install chargers at the remaining three locations, which are anticipated to be operational later in 2025. These initiatives are focused on improving infrastructure to support the increasing adoption of electric vehicles across the region.