The Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE) of the  Pacific Community (SPC), successfully co-hosted a Regional Training Workshop on Electric Mobility with Te Aponga Uira (TAU) and TransNet New Zealand in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 20–23 April 2026.

The workshop was held at a critical time, as Pacific Island countries continue to face fuel supply uncertainties, price volatility and rising import costs. Many are also pursuing ambitious renewable energy targets and transitioning from fossil fuel-based power generation towards greater renewable energy integration. In this context, electric mobility is gaining renewed attention as a pathway to reduce dependence on imported transport fuels, improve energy efficiency and support the shift toward lower-carbon transport systems.

Representatives from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands participated in the workshop, comprising participants from government agencies, utilities, private sector companies, and partner organisations such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), all working collaboratively to advance sustainable transport and electric mobility initiatives across the Pacific.

A key component of the training workshop focused on the installation and operation of a new 60kW DC fast charger in Rarotonga as part of strengthening TAU’s  charging infrastructure. The training included technical presentations, country updates, practical demonstrations, and hands-on sessions covering EV charging systems, charging standards, utility integration, monitoring systems maintenance procedures, and emerging technologies such as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G).

Participants also shared updates and lessons learned from ongoing electric mobility initiatives across the region, including charging infrastructure deployment, electric bus and bike trials, and related EV initiatives and investments. Discussions highlighted both the opportunities and challenges associated with deploying electric mobility solutions in Pacific Island settings.

Bruce Vaitohi of Vaitohi Enterprises Tonga noted that the workshop provided valuable exposure to public charging systems and opportunities to establish partnerships for future EV infrastructure development in Tonga. “Vaitohi Enterprises is currently exploring plans to introduce a public EV charger in Tonga. One of the key requirements is having a suitable billing system integrated with the charger. The training in Rarotonga provided valuable exposure to the newly installed charger and an opportunity to build partnerships with TransNet and other stakeholders,” he said.

A key conclusion from the workshop was that electric mobility in the Pacific is already underway, with growing practical experience and projects emerging across the region. Participants emphasized the importance of stronger regional coordination, knowledge sharing, staged implementation approaches, and continued technical capacity building to accelerate the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transport systems.

PCREEE acknowledged the funding support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ MFAT) through SPC’s Climate Change Flagship Programme, which supported the procurement of the 60kW DC fast charger for Te Aponga Uira’s demonstration project in Rarotonga.

More details - Training Workshop on Electric Mobility, Cook Islands | PCREEE [2]