Motor Vehicle Register changes from July 1 for EVs

Electric vehicles (EVs) will be better identified under new engine type definitions in the Motor Vehicle Register (MVR) coming into force on July 1.

The new definitions mean that all types of electric-powered vehicles can be clearly and correctly identified in the MVR, the NZ Transport Agency says.

This change will allow accurate reporting on the electric vehicle fleet, including monitoring trends in uptake across all types of EVs, it says.

Sixteen engine definitions will be available in the MVR, taking into account all the different types of EVs from pure battery electric vehicles to plug-in diesel hybrids.

A data cleansing exercise will be done to ensure existing EVs have the correct engine type definition in the MVR.

Most vehicle owners won’t be affected, but the change may result in a material difference to the motor vehicle levy paid by about 20 customers, the NZTA says.

“We will contact these customers to explain the changes.”

The NZTA says having accurate information on different EVs will ensure the MVR is a trusted source of data for applying exemptions and incentives, such as road user charges and special vehicle lane use, the latter recently trialled in Auckland.

After July 1, the engine definitions change to electric (electric motors only with batteries charged from an external source), petrol or diesel hybrid (no external charging), petrol or diesel electric hybrid (no external electricity source, the battery charged by an on-board petrol/diesel generator), plug-in petrol/diesel hybrids (batteries can be externally charged), electric petrol/diesel extended (battery charged from on-board petrol/diesel generator and external electricity source), electric hydrogen fuel cell, electric other fuel cell, and “other” (covering any other field).

The MVR update is part of the Government’s wider Electric Vehicles Programme aiming to increase EV numbers in New Zealand’s vehicle fleet to 64,000 by the end of 2021 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Any queries on the changes can be made to 0800 108 809 weekdays, 8am-6pm.