New Zealand's leading e-mobility advocacy organisation, accelerating electric vehicle uptake to decarbonise the transport system.
Drive Electric is a member-based, not-for-profit incorporated society advocating for electric-vehicle uptake and transport decarbonisation in New Zealand. It was established in 2011 as the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles, with seed funding from the Fukutake family, and rebranded as Drive Electric in 2014. The organisation says it now has more than 70 members across vehicle supply, commercial fleets, energy, charging infrastructure, finance, retail and micromobility. Its work includes policy submissions, industry research and whitepapers, EV market information, member collaboration and public education. Drive Electric has participated in policy debates concerning the Clean Car Discount and Standard, charging infrastructure and road user charges. Its current RUC proposals include temporary relief for newly registered light EVs and commercial electric vehicles, alongside an emissions-based component in the wider RUC system. Kirsten Corson remains Chair of a 10-member board. No current official source located during this review identified a replacement chief executive following Brian Dewil's January 2025 departure.
Utilises board and member expertise to produce well-informed submissions on transport decarbonisation policy, including the RUC system, Clean Car Standard, emissions reduction plans, and EV incentive frameworks.
Publishes whitepapers and insights papers on topics including commercial charging infrastructure, electricity grid challenges, autonomous vehicles, fleet electrification, and Nordic EV market learnings.
Maintains and publishes New Zealand EV market statistics tracking registered EVs, new registrations, fleet percentages, and market share trends.
Connects over 50 member organisations across energy, automotive, fleet management, finance, infrastructure, and government to advance the e-mobility ecosystem.
Organises events including PlugIn Fleet Days, speaking tours (e.g. Christina Bu's 2018 NZ tour), and stakeholder engagement to build public awareness and support for EV adoption.
Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV) established and seed-funded by the Fukutake family, when fewer than 20 EVs were registered in New Zealand.
Organisation rebrands to Drive Electric. Mark Gilbert (retired BMW Group NZ Managing Director) appointed Chairman. First Ministerial Roundtable hosted, beginning dialogue with Government about EV stimulus policies.
NZ Government announces the Electric Vehicles Programme, the first set of policies aimed at increasing EV uptake. EVolocity educational project developed for tertiary sector.
5,000 EVs registered in NZ. Whitepapers published on commercial charging infrastructure, electricity grid challenges, and autonomous vehicles. 'Five Key Priorities' presented to Labour Government.
15,000 EVs registered. ICCC recommends two-thirds fleet electrification. Drive Electric submits on Clean Car Standard and Discount policies.
20,000 EVs registered. 'Making the Move' whitepaper published on fleet electrification.
Clean Car Discount launches in July. Mark Gilbert joins the government's Clean Car Sector Leadership Group as Chair. 35,000 EVs registered by November.
40,000 EVs registered by March. Drive Electric submits on the government's RUC Discussion Document, supporting a future RUC system that enables climate targets while ensuring EV incentives are maintained.
Mark Gilbert retires from the Board after 11 years as Chair, having overseen EV growth from double digits to approximately 90,000. Granted Life Membership. Kirsten Corson appointed as new Chair effective 31 December 2023.
Drive Electric co-signs joint industry submission to Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, arguing for lower RUC rates for EVs ($60) and PHEVs ($42). 119,036 registered plug-in EVs by year-end.
Brian Dewil departs as Chief Executive after approximately two months in the role (announced 16 January 2025). Board's recruitment sub-committee begins search for replacement. Five incumbent directors reappointed for two-year terms at the 10 September 2025 AGM: Kirsten Corson, Annette Azuma, Tim Calder, Eric Pellicer, and Dennis Kelly. Two new board members appointed: Anthony MacLean (BoostAuto) and Fabian Lloyd (Fonterra decarbonisation). Lifetime Membership awarded to outgoing board member Sam Steel and former events manager Hannah Henderson.
Drive Electric published its second State of the Nation report on electric transport and a 2026/27 policy manifesto. The manifesto called for a 12-month RUC exemption for newly registered light EVs, extended RUC exemptions for commercial EVs until 2032 or 2% fleet penetration, and an emissions-based component in the RUC system.
Chair
Joined the board in 2021 and became Chair in January 2024. She co-founded Zilch, Carbn Asset Management and Sustainable Fleet Finance.
Deputy Chair
General Manager of Strategy at Powerco, with experience in energy infrastructure and low-emission transport.
Secretary/Treasurer
Director at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway. She has served on the Drive Electric board since December 2014.
Board Member
Principal Product Manager at Meridian Energy and board lead for Drive Electric's Charge Point Operator subgroup.
Board Member
FleetPartners executive with experience in vehicle leasing, commercial asset finance and fleet management.
Independent Director
Technology and investment executive and former Chair and interim Chief Executive of ChargeNet.
Board Member
Strategic adviser and fractional CFO with automotive and logistics experience, including as former Group CFO at Hyundai.
Board Member
Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Counties Energy and OpenLoop.
Board Member
Appointed in 2025. Director of BoostAuto with automotive OEM, commercial-vehicle and micromobility experience.
Board Member
Appointed in 2025. Decarbonisation Manager, National Transport and Logistics at Fonterra.
Life Member and former Chair (2012–2023)
Former BMW Group New Zealand Managing Director who chaired Drive Electric for 11 years and served as Chair of the government's Clean Car Sector Leadership Group.
Drive Electric has participated in RUC policy as it affects electric vehicles. In its 2022 submission, it accepted that EV drivers should eventually contribute to road funding but argued that equivalent EV charges should not exceed those borne by comparable fossil-fuel vehicles. In 2024 it co-signed an industry submission proposing rates of $60 per 1,000km for BEVs and $42 for PHEVs, below the rates subsequently implemented. Following the Government's 2025 announcement of universal RUC reform, Drive Electric described the change as an opportunity to align road funding with a lower-emissions transport strategy. Its 2026/27 manifesto proposes a 12-month RUC exemption for newly registered light EVs, extended exemptions for commercial EVs and electric trailers until 2032 or 2% fleet penetration, and an emissions-based component in RUC.
Drive Electric publicly opposed the end of the light-EV RUC exemption on 1 April 2024. Chair Kirsten Corson said the change, combined with removal of the Clean Car Discount, would slow EV sales. In a joint industry submission, Drive Electric supported lower rates of $60 per 1,000km for BEVs and $42 for PHEVs rather than the implemented $76 and $53 rates.
After the Clean Car Discount ended on 31 December 2023, Drive Electric warned that EV sales would be unlikely to recover quickly. New EV registrations fell sharply between December 2023 and January 2024. Drive Electric attributed a substantial part of the change to removal of the incentive, while other commentators also identified purchases being brought forward into 2023.
In November 2025, the Government temporarily reduced Clean Car Standard charges from $67.50 to $15 per gram of CO2 for new imports and from $33.75 to $7.50 for used imports. Drive Electric Chair Kirsten Corson warned that the change could make New Zealand a destination for higher-emission vehicles. The Government and vehicle-import groups argued that the previous settings risked increasing vehicle prices and placing pressure on importers.
NZ Incorporated Society
2011
c/- Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Level 9, 45 Queen Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Source: NZ Companies Office · Last checked February 2026
