What the 3G shutdown in NZ means for EV charging
At the end of 2025 the 3G network will shut down. Evnex is dedicated to helping its customers transition from 3G to 4G charging smoothly. Here are your options.
Since the early 2000s, 3G has faithfully carried our calls, texts, and software updates through the airwaves. It helped us send our first emojis, check emails on the go, and even pushed along the smart features in Evnex’s first chargers.
But all good things must come to an end, and the end is coming for New Zealand’s 3G network. It might be a little premature — the network won’t die until the end of the year, or the beginning of next if you’re with Spark — but we’re tipping our hats.
Goodbye, 3G, you served us well.
And your legacy continues: today’s Evnex chargers include 4G SIM cards, which will carry data from Kerikeri to Christchurch and beyond for years to come.
Will my charger stop working when 3G shuts down?
When the network shuts down, your charger will no longer be able to “talk” to Evnex servers. This means we won’t be able to send updates over the airwaves or fix your charger remotely.
Ultimately, features like scheduling and grid mix reporting will stop working.
But your charging journey doesn’t need to end with 3G. We have a way through.
How to keep charging your EV with 4G or Wi-Fi
We’ve prepared a few clear paths forward so you can choose what works best for you:
Upgrade to the X-series
The X-series are our most capable chargers. Both the X7 and X22 offer solar diversion, scheduling, home overload protection — all the smart features you know and love — plus RFID (access control) and three-phase monitoring.
They also come with built-in 4G SIMs, Wi-Fi, and ethernet connectivity!
For 3G Evnex customers, we’re offering the X-series up to $565 off full price. You can get:
- The X7 for $1,200
- The X22 for $1,500
You can compare the two models here.
Get $400 off the E2 range
The E2 range is our latest release. The E2 Core is a Wi-Fi-only unit with all the core capabilities of a smart charger — scheduling, home overload protection, and solar diversion.
The E2 Plus has all the features of the E2 Core plus a 4G SIM card and a gorgeous range of colour options.
For 3G Evnex customers, you can get $400 off one of the E2 range. Choose from:
- The E2 Core for $749
- The E2 Plus for $999
Explore the E2 range here.
Stay with your current charger
If you prefer, we’ll send a final firmware update before the 3G shutdown to take the unit fully offline. It will keep charging your car as a simple plug-and-play unit.
If you choose to swap your charger for an E7 or X-series, installation can be handled by your own electrician or our team can do a straight swap for $250 per unit.
4G and next steps for EV charging
The end of 3G is the start of a faster, smarter, and more connected era. 4G, Wi-Fi, and ethernet now give us the reliability and speed that modern homes and businesses expect.
And Evnex is here to ensure you get all the benefits of that speed.
3G was around for 15 years. We expect 4G to last at least as long; possibly longer, given its increased usefulness! So there’s no need to stress about another shutdown happening anytime soon.
In any case, we’ll be here to support your charger throughout its lifetime, no matter what network it’s on.
Goodbye, 3G.
Get in touch with our team at sales@evnex.com to arrange the switch, or explore all Evnex chargers here.
