Evie was chosen as the name for Foodstuffs North Island’s first electric truck. Other names on the shortlist included Buzzy Bee, Lightning and Bolt.
Madison, a Year 2 student at Russell Street School, came up with the winning name as part of a competition, with Russell Street School giving students the chance to put their own stamp on a truck they see out and about in their community.
The school unveiled the winning name on Wednesday, with Madison joined by fellow students, local PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square grocers, Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith and Palmerston North MP Tangi Utikere.
Evie has now been signed onto the truck, and a personalised ‘GOEVIE’ plate has been ordered.
Foodstuffs North Island General Manager Supply Chain, Yang Zhang, said the competition was a fun way to get local kids involved in something new for the co-op.
“Our trucks are out on the road every day delivering food to stores and communities, so we thought it would be great to get the kids involved and give our first electric truck a bit of personality,” said Zhang.
“There were some brilliant ideas, but Evie was a pretty fitting name for an EV. The best part is knowing Madison and the other students will be able to spot Evie out on the road and know they played a part in it.”
Operating from Foodstuffs North Island’s Mihaere Drive Distribution Centre in Palmerston North, the truck carries chilled and frozen groceries to stores across the lower North Island.
In its first six months on the road, Evie travelled nearly 45,000 kilometres and avoided more than 81,000kg of CO₂ emissions, roughly equivalent to taking 35 petrol cars off the road for a year.
Yang said Evie has been helping Foodstuffs understand what electric heavy freight can look like as the co-op works towards reducing its emissions by 42 percent by 2030.
“Moving heavy vehicles away from diesel is one of the tougher parts of reducing transport emissions, so it’s great to see Evie out there doing the job every day. And now it’s got a name. Hopefully Evie becomes a familiar sight around Palmerston North and the lower North Island.”
As a thank you for getting behind the competition, Foodstuffs North Island presented the school with NZD 500 in PAK’nSAVE gift cards, along with a scale model of Evie as a keepsake. Madison received a NZD 50 PAK’nSAVE gift card for coming up with the winning name, with another NZD 50 gift card for her teacher.
