By Laura Cheftel
The Challenge
When the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes devastated Christchurch, the Council faced more than broken infrastructure. Their existing transport system was a patchwork fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles, high costs, and unclear accountability. Rebuilding offered a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine how the city – and the Council itself – could move.
“The old system wasn’t just inefficient – it no longer made sense in the city we were becoming.”
Christchurch City Council asked a bold question: What kind of organisation, and what kind of city, do we want to be now?
The Solution
In 2017, the Council partnered with Zilch (then Yoogo Share) to deliver Aotearoa’s first 100% electric shared fleet. This wasn’t a pilot or a pledge. It was a full transformation, achieved within existing budgets by sharing more, owning less, and using data to right-size the fleet.
Key elements included:
- A zero-tailpipe emission fleet – no compromises.
- Transparent line-of-sight on costs and utilisation.
- A central booking platform open to all authorised staff.
- Change management and training for 700+ employees.
By consolidating vehicle access into a managed pool, Zilch enabled the Council to reduce the physical number of cars while still meeting demand.
The Impact
- 25% fewer vehicles – eliminating underutilised assets.
- 32% cost savings – despite higher EV purchase prices.
- Nearly 500 tonnes of CO₂e avoided – a meaningful cut in city emissions.
- 1,000+ trips per month – embedding use across the organisation.
- 700 staff onboarded – with strong enthusiasm, not resistance.
“The shared electric fleet that Zilch has provided for the City Council, a number of other businesses, and the public here in Christchurch has been brilliant.”
— Vicky Buck, Chair, Innovation & Sustainability Committee, CCC
Zilch’s solution didn’t just deliver a new fleet. It enabled Christchurch City Council to model what the future of municipal mobility could look like: smarter, cleaner and more equitable.
Lessons for Others
Christchurch City Council’s journey wasn’t just operational – it was cultural. Their success highlights six lessons for any organisation considering fleet transformation:
- Bravery matters more than perfection. Start with clear outcomes, not a complete map.
- Moments of disruption are opportunities. Use them to challenge “the way we’ve always done it.”
- Social licence can be earned – and used wisely. Deliver real outcomes, not token gestures.
- System change requires systemic thinking. Look beyond vehicles to procurement, HR, parking and data.
- The right partner makes it possible. Technology and collaboration must go hand in hand.
- This is replicable. Ageing fleets, emissions targets, and budget constraints are universal.
Your Turn
What Christchurch achieved wasn’t just a fleet upgrade – it was a reimagining of how public assets serve public good. And it shows what’s possible when leadership, timing, and the right tools align.
If your organisation is ready to lead the same kind of change, Zilch and Carbn can help you write your own transformation story.
👉 Contact us: info@carbn.nz