Can we reach 64,000 EVs in five years? 

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

The Government’s vision for electric vehicles is to have 64,000 EVs on our roads by 2021.

This means a doubling each year from 2000 this year (currently 12-1300), to 4000 in 2017, 8000 in 2018, 16,000 in 2019, 32,000 by 2020 and 64,000 in 2021.

Can and will it be done?

YES, say the EV evangelists, backed by the Government’s push to get EVs into fleets operated by major companies and local bodies, so that there will be a growing flow of used EVs in to the second hand market, over the next few years.

NO, say new car distributors, or at least not without meaningful Government subsidies. Steve Pragnell of Toyota NZ  believes the government is dreaming with its target of 64,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2022.

“Round the world, the places where electric cars are booming is where there are big incentives,” he says. “Until we get a breakthrough in this space and get up to decent range and energy density, the market will be limited..

“We are on the cusp of solving some of these issues, but at the moment a pure EV has a lot of compromises for New Zealand use.”
The 64,000 question is how can we achieve the Government’s 64,000 EVs by 2021.

The irony is that from a purely environmental and economic point-of-view there is no argument, EVs are it. But buying a car is an emotive decision.

Who cares than we can save up to $9 billion a year on oil imports, and reduce our CO2 emissions from transport to near zero?
“The most effective marketing tool for EVs is to get people into EVs,” visiting US EV advocate Chelsea Sexton told last month’s EV symposium in Wellington. “The owners and drivers of EVs are the most effective selling tool we have.

“Once people experience the fantastic performance of EVs, their quietness and fun to drive, they are sold.”

Mike Underhill, head of EECA – the government agency tasked with winning the hearts and minds of New Zealand car buyers – sees it this way.

“To achieve the Government’s target we need to start winning over both new and second hand car buyers,” he told the symposium. “We have to dispel the myths, and reinforce the benefits.”

Undersell admits there are some trade-offs in the NZ market with 70% of Kiwis only buying second hand, and the 30% of new cars going mainly into fleets.

However, his agency will be spending $1 million a year over the next five years promoting and providing information on EVs.

“We’re drawing on others expertise:

• Norway’s experience (with the highest penetration of EVs in the world)
• Canada’s emotive campaign
• Work by local advocates – the Better NZ Trust, Drive Electric etc”

Underhill  promises we’ll learn more from September. In the meantime EECA is also tasked with administering the Government’s $6 million a year ‘contestable fund’ supporting innovative low emissions vehicle projects.

What’s likely to fly with money from the fund? “Projects that might not otherwise occur,“ says Undersell, such as:

• Creation and promotion of branded tourism routes using EVs.
• Demonstrations of new zero emission vehicle types – e.g. Electric buses and commercial vans
• EV car sharing schemes that address transport demand in a different way.

“New Zealand is uniquely well-placed to get the best from EVs,” says The EECA boss.

“But it needs government, local government, electric, automotive and charging sectors to work together – so buyers are confident and willing.

“64,000 EVs by 2021 is not going to happen by itself,” he states.