Taupo & Turangi Herald

Pain at the petrol pump

- Rachel Canning

Taupo¯ motorists are feeling the bite of increased fuel costs after petrol prices across the region rose 10 per cent in the year ended September 2018, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Aucklander­s are also feeling the pain, facing a 12 per cent increase in the same period.

With the exception of Gull Taupo¯, competitio­n within Taupo¯ township was non-existent on Monday and Tuesday this week. Gull Taupo¯ sold 91 for $2.23.7 and diesel for $1.49.7, and all other petrol stations in the Taupo¯ CBD priced 91 petrol at $2.28.9 and diesel at $1.54.9.

Kinloch resident Paul Davies commutes five days a week to Rotorua and says it costs $140 per week to fill up his diesel Mitsubishi Triton ute. Road user charges are an additional $40.

“The fuel costs have gone up by $30 or $40 in the past year,” says Paul. Paul is self employed and says he intends to buy a new company vehicle every three years.

“The vehicle is up for renewal in one year and because of the rising fuel costs, it is most likely the new vehicle will be a hybrid that runs on dual fuel.”

He rules out buying an electric vehicle because of the distance he travels and estimates it will cost him the diesel equivalent of 4 litres per 100km to run a hybrid to Rotorua five days a week, compared to the diesel ute that currently uses 8 litres per 100km.

Paul buys his fuel in Rotorua at BP on Te Ngae Rd, Lynmore for $1.35 per litre. A year ago diesel cost $1 per litre. He collects AA Fuel rewards and saves 10 cents a litre by purchasing on Wednesdays.

Laurie Wilkinson has a week- day commute from Motuoapa to Taupo¯, dropping her sons off at school and to after-school sport. Laurie drives a diesel VW Touareg, usually fills up at one of the Gull stations as they are the cheapest, and tries to shop around for fuel.

“Twelve years ago when we first moved to Motuoapa and the boys were going to kindy in Taupo¯, petrol would cost about $50 per week. With today’s fuel prices it costs $120 for a week’s round trips.”

Z Energy external communicat­ions manager Sheena Thomas says its surprising that petrol prices were identical throughout Taupo¯ CBD. Head office sets the price as, unlike other petrol stations, Z stations are not individual­ly owned.

Z Energy also owns the Caltex brand and is the wholesale supplier to Caltex, however the local Caltex is individual­ly owned. Caltex and BP are part of the AA fuel rewards system, with Z offering Flybuys rewards.

“With 91 priced at 228.9, fuel is quite decently discounted in Taupo¯ compared to other parts of the country.” says Sheena. Her top fuel saving tip is to reduce the load in your car.

“Get rid of the stuff in the boot and on top of the car, and make sure your tyres are inflated.”

Custom Fleet NZ country lead Michelle Herlihy supplies vehicles to corporates and business. She says at every meeting with clients they want to discuss electric vehicles.

“We are experienci­ng a huge number of enquiries from our New Zealand customers about electric vehicles.”

Kinloch resident Pat Pennefathe­r bought a hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander one month ago and says while the entry price is a barrier (approximat­ely 20 per cent more), he paid a bit extra to save money on petrol in the long run.

“The figures that I heard are that it costs the equivalent of 30 cents per petrol litre to run the vehicle.”

Pat is hoping to pay even less by switching his power plan to a day-night variable so he can charge the car at night at a lower cost. With his previous vehicle he was paying $100 in petrol per week to commute daily to Taupo¯ and says he estimates his monthly power bill will increase by about $100, a net saving of $75 per week.

Michelle from Custom Fleet NZ says that ‘range anxiety’ is a factor for most electric vehicle drivers, however battery performanc­e is improving all the time. She points to the Hyundai Kona SUV with a range of 400km, double that of most electric vehicles.

“We predict that within 20 to 25 years, 95 per cent of New Zealand vehicles will be electric vehicles,” says Michelle.

 ?? Photo / Aaron Dent. ?? Hybrid car owner Pat Pennefathe­r saves on petrol each week in his daily commute to Taupo¯.
Photo / Aaron Dent. Hybrid car owner Pat Pennefathe­r saves on petrol each week in his daily commute to Taupo¯.
 ?? Photo / Laurilee McMichael. ?? Petrol price rises in Taupo¯ can be attributed to the new petrol excise duty, a low dollar and rising fuel costs.
Photo / Laurilee McMichael. Petrol price rises in Taupo¯ can be attributed to the new petrol excise duty, a low dollar and rising fuel costs.

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