EV interest fast growing

More Kiwis are considering electric vehicles, particularly in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions, Trade Me Motors says.

The number of views on EVs increased by a whopping 330% in the last year, according to its latest data.

Electric vehicles are becoming “an attractive alternative” for car buyers, Trade Me Motors head Alan Clark says.

“People in the market for a new or used car are attracted to their smooth and silent performance, low maintenance costs and environmental benefits.”

Clark says the financial outlay is increasingly competitive too. “The average price of an EV on Trade Me Motors is $23,300, which is less than 15% dearer than a non-electric hatchback of a similar age. This gap has shrunk very quickly over the past few years.”

In the past year, the number of EVs for sale has increased dramatically. “The number of electric vehicle listings climbed 127% since August last year, with the Nissan Leaf proving to be the most popular model amongst Kiwis,” Clark says.

“Our three main metros are a prime example of where electric vehicles are thriving, with a dense population and access to numerous charging stations, they are a convenient alternative.”

Between June and August, the Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions were leading the charge on EVs, making up 39.6%, 12.5% and 14.2% respectively of EV watchlist activity on Trade Me.

Clark expects the EV numbers in Auckland to climb over the next year. “The announcement from the NZ Transport Agency that it will allow EV drivers to use selected special vehicle lanes in Auckland for the next year will flush out more electric vehicles as super city commuters attempt to save time.”

Regional New Zealand isn’t so taken with EVs.

Northland and Southland make up 3.3% and 1.2% of Trade Me watchlist activity.

Gisborne, West Coast and Whanganui showed the least EV interest, comprising 0.21%, 0.32% and 0.52% of the watchlist activity.

“We simply don’t have enough public charging ports for electric vehicles outside the main metros,” Clark says. “Once this infrastructure improves and public charging points are almost as common as petrol stations, we will see far more electric vehicles in non-urban areas.”

But charging stations are on the way for areas like Gisborne and the east coast, Picton to Christchurch’s alternative route to SH1, further south and in Northland, partly through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority low emission vehicles contestable funding.

Clark says the technology will get better and the range of EVs will broaden to appeal to more people.

However, he doesn’t see EVs eclipsing petrol or diesel vehicles soon. “We’re a clean green country and electric vehicles give anyone worried about their carbon footprint an eco-friendly alternative, but they’re a long way from taking over the garages and carports of the nation.”

Trade Me’s EV watch list by region (alphabetical order).

Auckland 39.64%, Bay of Plenty 5.61%, Canterbury 14.23%, Gisborne 0.21%, Hawke’s Bay 2.56%, Manawatu 2.66%, Marlborough 0.66%, Nelson Bays 2.76%, Northland 3.29%, Otago 3.74%, Southland 1.17%, Taranaki 2.05%, Timaru-Oamaru 0.85%, Waikato 6.17%, Wairarapa 0.87%, Whanganui 0.52%, Wellington 12.56%, West Coast 0.32%, other 0.13%.