Written by Queenstown, NZ

Will you be joining a tour that is on the road to an emissions free future with electric vehicles?

With connections to the transport industry since the 1920s, Appellation Wine Tours has a long history of showcasing fine wines, local sights, and heritage attractions. They are committed to sustainability. Importantly, they have embraced electric vehicles, which are emission-free, for their tours. This proves that electric vehicles are emission free in the most practical sense.

After they switched to 80% electric in 2022 for the Nelson's public bus fleet, the owners were inspired. They began to wonder how electrification could benefit its other businesses, including Appellation Wine Tours.

On the road now for over 24 years, Appellation covers more than 5,000 kilometres in an average week during peak season. This is due to daily small-group and private tours. Now, the business proudly leads by example with its emissions-free kilometres growing by the day. This is thanks to their electric vehicles. They purchased two new electric Ford E-Transit 12 seater vans in December 2023. The team at Appellation quickly noticed the rewards with operational efficiencies. They also benefited from economies of scale. Moreover, they observed the obvious environmental benefits.

“For more than two decades our tours have been an effective way of reducing emissions around the district - this is compared with individual car travel. So we wanted to take it a step further by investing in zero emissions vehicles,” - Sarah Russell, General Manager at Appellation Wine Tours. Indeed, electric vehicles are now leading the way toward emission-free travel.

Queenstown to go Carbon Zero by 2030

Supporting Queenstown Lakes' goal of achieving a carbon zero visitor economy by 2030, environmental sustainability was an important factor. This was strongly considered when Appellation looked into electric vehicles.

Although their electric vehicles require a higher upfront investment—especially since these are custom-made—their operating costs are significantly lower than those of fuel-based alternatives.

“Electricity generally costs less than diesel or petrol, and we spend less on maintenance because EVs have fewer moving parts and experience less wear and tear,” says Stu Cordelle, Business and Sales Manager at Appellation Wine Tours.

Electric vehicles typically use fewer parts and need fewer replacements. They require servicing less frequently. Additionally, large electric vehicles in New Zealand benefit from a government incentive. They are exempt from road user charges until December 2025, creating further savings for the business. “Vehicle driving range was another important consideration. In a typical day including pick-ups and drop offs around Queenstown, a tour can cover anywhere between 150 – 200 kilometres” Sarah adds. 

An EV can drive an estimated 250 km per trip. This allows Appellation Wine Tours to explore the district comfortably without needing to stop and charge. This setup delivers a great experience for their guests. The company installed EV charging stations at their headquarters in Frankton, so vehicles start each day fully charged and ready to go. This approach saves time for drivers and boosts efficiency across the business. It eliminates the need to top up fuel at the end of each day.

Sarah explains, “It’s peace of mind for our drivers. They know they can come back to the yard and charge it ready for the morning.”

Many wineries and cellar doors have also installed their own electric charging stations.

Looking ahead, the team is learning each day about the way speed and weather can impact driving range. They are adapting as they go. They’re also looking at continuing to invest more in sustainable business practices and assets, and starting to measure carbon use.

Larger electric passenger vehicles in New Zealand are not readily available and hard to source. So Appellation’s advice to anyone thinking about electrifying a fleet is to plan it early. Investing in the two Ford E-Transits is just the beginning for Appellation. It is a step in the right direction for business, guest experience and the wider region.

If you'd like to see more ways in which Queenstown as a whole is aiming towards its goal to ''Electrify Queenstown''...take a look here. With a goal of being carbon zero by 2030, there's a lot of changes pending. This includes the transition to electric vans.