New Zealand's leading e-mobility advocacy organisation, accelerating electric vehicle uptake to decarbonise the transport system.
Drive Electric is a not-for-profit membership organisation and New Zealand's leading voice on e-mobility. Originally established in 2011 as the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV), seed-funded by the Fukutake family, it rebranded to Drive Electric in 2014. The organisation exists to accelerate electric vehicle uptake in New Zealand, believing EVs are crucial to decarbonising the transport system. Drive Electric has a membership of over 50 leading organisations representing the convergence of the e-mobility ecosystem across energy, automotive, fleet management, finance, infrastructure, and government. Through its network of members and partners, Drive Electric engages in policy advocacy, educational initiatives, and industry collaboration. It played a central role in the development and introduction of the Clean Car Discount in 2021, and its former long-serving Chair Mark Gilbert led the government's Clean Car Sector Leadership Group. Drive Electric has made submissions on major transport policy including the RUC system, consistently advocating that any changes preserve incentives for EV uptake. In late 2024, the board hired Brian Dewil (formerly of Ola NZ) as Chief Executive, signalling an intent to expand advocacy from passenger vehicles into light and heavy commercial transport. Dewil departed in January 2025 after a brief tenure, and the board's recruitment sub-committee is actively searching for a replacement.
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.
Chair
Appointed Chair effective January 2024. Co-founder of Zilch (EV mobility-as-a-service) and Carbn Group Holdings (green fleet consulting and finance). Previous governance experience as Chair of Carbn Group and Chair of Totara Hospice. Joined the Drive Electric board in 2021.
Deputy Chair
Reappointed for a two-year term at the 2025 AGM.
Director
Co-founder of ChargeNet NZ (New Zealand's EV charging network) and Serato. Brings e-mobility infrastructure expertise to the board.
Life Member & former Chair (2012-2023)
Retired BMW Group NZ Managing Director. Led Drive Electric for 11 years during which registered EVs grew from under 20 to ~90,000. Chaired the government's Clean Car Sector Leadership Group.
Board Member (from 2025)
Director at BoostAuto with extensive OEM experience. Runs a micro-mobility business and automotive consultancy.
Board Member (from 2025)
Decarbonisation Manager, National Transport & Logistics at Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited.
Drive Electric has been deeply involved in RUC policy as it affects electric vehicles. In 2022, it submitted on the government's RUC Discussion Document, supporting the principle that EV drivers should eventually contribute to road funding but no more than equivalent fossil-fuel vehicle drivers. In 2024, Drive Electric co-signed a joint industry submission (with the Motor Industry Association, AA, and others) to the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, arguing for lower RUC rates of $60 for BEVs and $42 for PHEVs. Chair Kirsten Corson stated the current system is 'particularly unfair for EVs' given their lower environmental and infrastructure impact.
Drive Electric led industry opposition to the end of the EV RUC exemption on 1 April 2024, calling the decision 'disappointing.' In a joint submission with the Motor Industry Association, AA, and other groups, Drive Electric argued the $76/1,000km rate unfairly penalised EVs relative to petrol vehicles and advocated for a lower rate of $60. The organisation warned the charges would undermine New Zealand's EV uptake at a critical time.
Following the new National-led government's repeal of the Clean Car Discount on 31 December 2023, Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson warned that EV sales levels were 'exceptionally unlikely' to recover. The impact was dramatic: EV registrations plummeted from 4,349 in December 2023 to just 446 in January 2024, dropping from one in four new vehicles to one in 26. Drive Electric highlighted that the scheme had been effective, lifting EV share from 2% of new sales in 2018 to 27% in 2023.
In July 2024, Drive Electric publicly warned that New Zealand would become a 'dumping ground for high-emissions vehicles' after the government weakened the Clean Car Standard to align with Australia's emissions settings. The penalty rate for importers was slashed by nearly 80%, from $67.50 to $15 per gram of CO2 for new imports. Drive Electric argued the changes, combined with the loss of the Clean Car Discount and introduction of EV RUC, created a policy environment that actively discouraged the transition to electric vehicles.
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
