Highest plug-in month ever

This story first appeared in the May issue of EVTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The number of plug-in vehicles registered in New Zealand has hit a new high, with 84 being registered in April.

That is significantly more than the 64 a month averaged over the previous three months. 

Plug-in hybrid vehicles made up the majority of EV registrations when they first became available, but their registrations have dropped while used import pure battery vehicles registrations have increased.

Interestingly this month, some previously unseen vehicles have made an appearance in the registration tables, with the BMW 2-Series and BMW 3-Series plug-ins, set for sale later this year, beginning to arrive, while the first of the Volvo XC90s have appeared on the list.

The Renault Zoe and Kangoo also show for the first time as the first battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registered this year – at two a piece.

In imports there was some variation. The usual Nissan Leaf platoon joined by BMW i3s, Peugeot Ions and a Mitsubishi Outlander.