On 3 September 2026, Drive Electric made a submission to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) on its consultation on Proposed energy flexibility regulatory requirements for electric vehicle chargers.
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- Communication: supporting a mandatory open, standardised communication protocol (e.g. OCPP 1.6+) with no forced intermediary, to reduce vendor lock-in and protect consumers if a supplier’s platform is withdrawn.
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- Product response: supporting the consumer-override requirement and a last-known-settings fallback if a charger is disconnected from the controlling system, plus a randomised delay or ramp-rate limit to prevent simultaneous-load instability on the network.
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- Data capture: supporting chargers making session start/end time and cumulative energy imported available to both the connected system and the end user after each session.
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- Cyber security: recommending EECA and the Electricity Authority commit to a defined forward work programme on charger cyber security, flagging particular risk where company vehicles connect to corporate Wi-Fi networks to charge.
Drive Electric’s Submission
The submission reflects Drive Electric’s Manifesto 2026/2027 Recommendation 4.5, which calls for all new dedicated charging installations to be Smart-Ready and aligned with EECA’s smart charging mandating and labelling programme. Drive Electric noted that ‘dumb’ (non-smart) chargers continue to be sold and bundled with new EVs by default, with consumers rarely informed of the smart charging alternative — and welcomed EECA’s proposed information and labelling requirements as a way to help consumers compare products and identify genuine smart functionality at the point of purchase.
Download the full Drive Electric submission to EECA.
Drive Electric regularly meets with and advises key political figures and decision-makers in the transport sector, submits advisory papers on e-mobility legislation, and contributes to government-led policy development groups — helping to shape Aotearoa’s transition to cleaner, smarter transport. Become a member, stay connected and be part of the journey.
