4 basics if you’re thinking of going electric

Is an EV right for you? Research shows:

•

90% of car trips in NZ are shorter than 90km;

•

the average daily car trip is around 30km.

The battery range of an EV varies from around 200km up to 600km in new, highend models.

If you often get stuck in traffic, an EV’s regenerative braking system recaptures and stores energy every time you slow down, and it doesn’t use any energy when stationary.

1

Power up at home

You can plug an EV into any external electricity source. This can be a regular electrical socket, a dedicated charging unit, or public charging station. There is at least one charging station every 75km throughout NZ.

2

EVs are cleaner

An EV has 80% fewer CO₂ emissions than an equivalent petrol car, thanks to NZ’s extremely high use of renewable energy, and 60% fewer over their entire life.

3

Low running costs

Using a residential off-peak electricity rate means you can charge your EV overnight for much less than the price of a tank of petrol; it’s like buying petrol at around 40c/litre, depending on your electricity retailer.

They also have low maintenance costs as their motors have very few moving parts. There’s no oil to change, and no oil filter, air filter, gearbox, drive belts or spark plugs.

4

You get a discount when you buy

Rebates are available to anyone purchasing an EV or plug-in hybrid EV: •

up to $8625 for a new vehicle;

•

up to $3450 for a used one.

The discount applies to cars with a star safety rating of at least three and costing under $80,000. Plug-in EVs are also exempt from road user charges (RUC) until 31 March 2024, saving owners $600 a year on average.

Read more genless.govt.nz/assets/EveryoneResources/buying-an-EV.pdf

EV (BEV)

Fully battery-powered electric vehicle. Applies full power as soon as you touch the accelerator, no engine noise, great hill climbers, regenerative braking means they recharge going downhill.

SUITS: people who can charge overnight at home or at work, and mostly travel within the battery range.

PHEV

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Has two types of motors – an electric motor and battery, and an internal combustion engine fuelled by petrol or diesel, plus a regenerative braking system.

SUITS: people who can charge overnight at home or at work and often need to use the vehicle to travel beyond the battery range.