Electrifying the Great Rides

About the fund

The EGR fund is contestable and is available to the 23 Great Rides, Heartland and Connector Rides. Applicants to this fund must be part of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails Network.

The EGR fund is only for e-bike charging equipment and installation (for example, connecting directly into the existing power network, but not for extending the network or upgrading transformers). The EGR fund is not intended to be used for additional facilities associated with the charging station (for example, installing a potable water source, toilets, interpretation panels). Applicants are expected to fund additional facilities by themselves.

The maximum amount of funding available to each e-bike charging station is $60,000 (excluding GST). Applicants can apply for one or more e-bike charging stations, but only one application per Ride. Ongoing maintenance of the e-bike charging equipment is out of scope of this fund, however, all funded charging stations are expected to be maintained by the applicant and remain operational for a minimum of 5 years after installation. Any approved funding from the EGR should be used within 18 months of contracting.

Who can apply

The EGR fund is open to: 

• Great Ride governance organisations that are:
  
  • part of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails Network
  • full members of New Zealand Cycle Trails Incorporated (NZCT Inc).
• Rides that hold approved Great Ride status, as provided by the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality.
• Territorial authorities (or community groups that are supported by the relevant territorial authority) wanting to deploy charging stations along Heartland and Connector Rides that are part of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails Network.

Fund criteria

The criteria are:

• Funding is for e-bike charging equipment and installation costs only. (Note: The fund should not be used for additional facilities associated with the charging station.)
• The charging station must be located along the Great Ride (within 5kms of the trail) that provides services supporting Great Ride users.
• For Heartland and Connector Rides the charging stations along the trails cannot be located in:
  
  • Major metropolitan areas (eg Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch).
  • Urban start/finish points (eg Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Masterton, Blenheim, Westport and Invercargill).
  • Urban centres that have charging stations already deployed.
• The project must be completed within 18 months after the funding approval.
• The charging station must be primarily for cycle tourists using the Great Rides, Heartland Rides or Connector Rides. (Note: The fund is not intended to provide the e-bike charging facilities for commuters.)
• The maximum amount of funding available per e-bike charging station is $60,000.

Co-funding requirements

• Applicants must co-fund at least 50% of each e-bike charging station.
• In-kind contributions may be allowed, but will be considered on a case-by-case bases. Contact MBIE for any questions regarding in-kind contributions.

Funding recipients

In round 1, $478,750 was awarded for 10 e-bike charging stations across 2 Great Rides:

• Hawke’s Bay Trails - $287,250 for 6 e-charging stations.
• Remutaka Cycle Trail - $191,500 for 4 e-charging stations.