The Springs Junction EV charger is a unique charging solution, created from recycled EV batteries. Tapping into the local grid to power the EV chargers would reduce power to locals, requiring an innovative solution. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) charges overnight to supply energy to two fast chargers during the day.
The chargers at Springs Junction are powered using a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) during the hours of 4am - 11pm. This makes the charging experience slightly different.
If you plug in and start a charging session immediately, the chargers may get stuck in "preparing" mode. This happens because we've set the chargers to run on the lowest energy possible when not in use to save power from the BESS units. They need about 30 seconds from when you plug in to when you start your charging session.
For a successful charging session, follow these simple steps:
If the weather is bad, you can start your charging session via the app.
If the batteries run out, then you won't be able to charge. We continuously receive battery state of charge information that our team will be monitoring closely. Charger availability will be shown in the Zero app and at the top of this page.
As this is the first site on the Zero network to be powered by the BESS units, it’s difficult to know how busy the site will be. Our team will be monitoring Springs Junction closely to see if changes can be made to provide a better experience for drivers.
For now, charging is not 100% guaranteed, so we always recommend planning your charging stops in advance and having a back-up plan just in case.
Zero App
Use the Zero app or PlugShare to find the available chargers near you.
At Springs Junction Meridian’s Zero chargers are powered by three 120 kWh BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) units, with nine repurposed Nissan Leaf battery packs in each. The BESS units charge overnight between 11pm and 4am when demand on the local network is at its lowest, so that they can supply power to the chargers when needed.
The BESS units will initially store enough power for around 15 charging sessions at 22kWh each per day. Charging speeds may vary depending on demand and time of day.
Yes, you can still use the chargers overnight while the batteries are charging. But please note, the charging speed will be much slower.
There is a transition period at 11pm where the BESS units and EV chargers will switch from island mode and connect to the local grid. If you arrive at 11pm, you will be in the transition period and won't be able to charge until the system has connected itself. This can take up to 10 minutes. Please be patient while the system connects to the grid. Once connected, you will be able to charge up to 10kW.
Because of the remote location, the network can only handle a maximum 10kW change every 6 minutes. This means if you're charging your EV between 11pm and 4am and there is a driver behind you wanting to charge next, they will have to wait 6 minutes before they can start charging.
Springs Junction is a remote location, so the network can only handle a maximum 10kW change before it shuts down. This means if a driver were to charge above 10kW and then finished charging or pressed the emergency stop button, the sudden change of energy above 10kW would trigger the network infrastructure to switch off the site. This isn't a quick fix and would require someone from Network Tasman to come to the site and manually reset it. Therefore, drivers are limited to charging at 10kW between 11pm - 4am.
Typically, a standard EV might need anywhere from 50 to 82 kWh to reach a full charge, depending on the battery size and the specific make and model of the vehicle.
We'll do our best to resolve faults and operational issues as quickly as possible, but because this is a new solution, some issues may take time to fix, which could cause delays for customers. Typically we expect faults to take between 4 hours and 20 days to resolve.
If you arrive on site and see that something isn't right, please let us know as soon as possible. You can either contact us via the Zero app or give us a ring on 0800 EV ZERO.
Springs Junction is just one charging location in the wider EV charging desert. We urge drivers to consider their route before they travel and plan their charging needs based on checking the status of the Springs Junction chargers in the Zero app and at the top of this page.
The power from our chargers should be used to get you to the next charging location in Reefton, Murchison or Culverden. Using only what you need will ensure more of Aotearoa’s EV drivers can benefit from Springs Junction.
The limited electricity supply at Springs Junction means there is no additional power from the grid available between 4 am to 11pm. We are looking into emergency charging solutions. In the meantime, please continue to plan ahead and only use what you need from the chargers.
Yes, we've designed this site so that solar panels can be added in the future to boost charging capacity. This is the first site on the Zero network to be powered by the BESS units and our team will be monitoring Springs Junction closely to see what we can do to provide a better experience for drivers.
