Electric vehicle availability set to increase from now to 2020

New Zealand’s acceptance of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is gaining momentum, with at least 44 new models expected to be launched here between now and 2020.

A survey by the Motor Industry Association has confirmed that between seven and 10 new models a year will be introduced into the new vehicle market over the next five years.

The survey was conducted in an attempt to address questions recently raised by businesses and consumers on the availability – or lack of availability – of EVs and PHEVs in New Zealand.

‘‘Of the total number of planned new plugin vehicle models between now and the end of 2020, one-third are EVs and two-thirds are PHEVs,’’ MIA chief executive David Crawford says.

‘‘In each of the years there will be around 7 to 10 new models a year introduced. This is a reasonably strong growth rate.’’

Crawford added that in releasing the results of the survey, the MIA recognises that knowledge of when a make and model is coming to the market is commercially sensitive, so it has been necessary to group the models into the following broad segments. Micro/light/small: 7 EVs, 2 PHEVs. Medium/large/upper: 5 EVs, 7 PHEVs. Sports: 3 EVs.

SUV – compact/medium: 2 EVs, 9 PHEVs. SUV – large/luxury: 1 EV, 6 PHEVs.

Light Commercial: 1 EV, 1 PHEV.

While the number of new models to be introduced is looking promising, the rate of sales of these models is difficult to predict,’’ says Crawford. ‘‘All models carry a price premium over standard vehicles, and will continue to do so for some time.

‘‘However with the announcement in May by the Minster of Transport on a package of incentives to increase the uptake of low emission vehicles, the MIA believes there is growing interest by businesses and consumers in purchasing low emission vehicles such as EVs and PHEVs.’’