74% of Kiwis considering an EV

About 74% of New Zealanders would consider buying an electric vehicle, a Trade Me survey shows.

More than 1300 Kiwis participated in the survey which looked at their perceptions of EVs, Trade Me Motors head Alan Clark says.

“We were keen to see how much EVs had come onto the radar of petrol-head New Zealand,” he says.

“We were stunned to find out that nearly three-in-four New Zealanders would consider an EV for their next vehicle.”

Clark says Kiwis have recently warmed up to EVs.

“Just last year we asked Kiwi motorists the same question and only half of respondents said they’d look at an EV for their next vehicle. That is a huge shift in mindset in just 12 months.”

Clark says more New Zealanders are likely to make the switch in the near future with climate change top of mind for many people, a range of new models on the market, rising fuel costs and the government’s proposed new plan to subsidise EVs.

But Clark says the initial outlay for an EV is the biggest deterrent for New Zealanders, with 69% claiming purchase cost as the top reason why they haven’t already switched.

The average cost for an EV on Trade Me in June was about $25,000, while the average petrol/diesel car was just $16,000.

Other concerns included range (54%) and battery life (46%).

Clark says that despite the leaps and bounds EVs have made, Kiwis are still more likely to buy a petrol vehicle than any other.

“While three-quarters of respondents said they would consider an EV, when the rubber hits the road, they are most likely to buy a petrol vehicle next.

“Cost, is of course a motivating factor to New Zealand consumers. While you can pick up a used EV onsite for around $13,000, they don’t fit into everyone’s budget.

Of the 95,000 vehicles for sale on Trade Me, 1000 of those are electric.

Clark believes the concerns will be overcome by time and technology advancement.

“It will be interesting to see how the Government’s proposed subsidy on electric vehicles will impact buying habits. Our survey suggests there’s certainly an appetite.”

Trade Me has seen a 34% jump in the number of EVs being added to Kiwis’ watchlists compared to last year.

“The number of EVs for sale onsite has also increased, rising 17% on June last year.”

Clark says this had been driven by an increase in the number of dealers who are importing and supporting used EVs to offer New Zealanders a wider range.

The survey shows those with a longer commute are more likely to consider an EV.

“Respondents who have a total daily commute of 60 minutes or longer are more likely to think about joining the EV revolution with 80% saying they’d consider it. On the other hand, of those who have a daily commute of 20 minutes or less, 71% would think about an EV for their next vehicle.”

Clark says an increasing number of EV chargers around New Zealand and a rise in the amount of used models at a lower price will encourage EV use.