EROAD Fleet expo 2023 with Coolbox

The first-ever EROAD Fleet Expo was held on 8th March 2023, at the breath taking location of Boomrock, perched on dramatic coastal cliffs with sweeping views over the Cook Strait and the South Island.

The event attracted significant attention from over 120 business leaders, fleet managers and suppliers, all aiming to explore and showcase the latest vehicle technologies, data, and how they can promote a greener and safer future for the New Zealand light fleet industry. EROAD and the Greater Wellington Regional Council sponsored the event, which featured industry experts such as ThunderGrid founder Jonathan Parker, Auto Media Group Managing Editor Richard Edwards, and ChargeNet CEO Danusia Wypych.

Mad Mike Whiddett, the New Zealand drifting champion set the tone by kicking of the morning and afternoon sessions with some smoke, speed and precision with one of his iconic race cars.

Fleet Manager Jeanette Parsons from the Greater Wellington Regional Council highly praised the event, calling it an invaluable opportunity for the industry to embrace vehicle technologies and data and work towards a greener and safer future. Multiple car dealerships and industry leaders including Hyundai NZ, LDV NZ, Suzuki NZ, and Capital City Ford, CoolBox NZ, Brendan Foot Mtrs, SG Fleet and SIXT, partnered with the event to showcase over 60 different light fleet models and offer attendees the unique opportunity to test drive various vehicles on a purpose-built track and off-road.

Konrad Stempniak, EROAD's Executive General Manager for Australia and New Zealand, shared that the Fleet Expo aimed to bring light fleet professionals and businesses together to discuss the industry's challenges, trends, and opportunities. In recent times, transportation has contributed to 17% of New Zealand's emissions, and the EROAD Fleet Expo aimed to help businesses comprehend the available options to reduce emissions.

During the event, fleet professionals, experts, and business leaders engaged in critical discussions on electrification, fleet optimization, leasing versus buying, planning for EV charging infrastructure, and actions leaders should take to prepare for the future. Attendees had the chance to drive the vehicles first-hand, learning from each other's experiences. EROAD is also developing a fleet decarbonisation tool with EECA to encourage more fleet businesses to start or enhance their own sustainability programs.

The event proved to be a success, and Stempniak stated that fleets want to understand their emissions and ways to reduce them, and events such as the Fleet Expo allow them to learn from each other, break down barriers, and create a clearer pathway towards net-zero.

LDV New Zealand had on display the first light all electric E Deliver 3 with a box body fitted in New Zealand. As a supplier to LDV, CoolBox drove the plug in fully electric vehicle to Taupo with a quick top up charge in Tirau while grabbing some breakfast. Arriving in Taupo it still had 36% battery. It was loaded onto a truck and taken on to Boomrock after parking up in some interesting locations. For fleets looking to decarbonise this is a great vehicle to start the process. Ticks all the boxes for around town deliveries while the diesel vehicles still do the long haul heavy lifting. Find out more here