EV delivery delays predicted

This story first appeared in the October issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The surging global demand for electric vehicles is likely to lead to longer delivery times for popular models.

And that could mean increased difficulty during the next year for Kiwis to get new EVs, and possibly even second-hand ones, according to EV charging infrastructure company Chargemaster managing director Nigel Broomhall.

He says EV uptake is not only rising rapidly here, but globally too.

“Global inventories in popular models are getting tight,” Broomhall says.
“Delivery times of six months and more are now common in Europe, where most cars are built to order.
Some of our clients in New Zealand are ordering the Kona Elite which won’t be here until 2019,” he says.

“I predict that it is going to become increasingly difficult over the next 12 months to secure new EVs in NZ.
Sure, we love second-hand cars, but supplies of these may also tighten as global demand continues to increase.”
Broomhall says he made his prediction after talking to dealers and buyers.

“I bought one of the last Kona Electrics available in New Zealand several weeks ago.
We are going to get very small numbers until around January, although that date may shift.
Not surprising given what we saw in Norway (7000-plus pre-orders – which I believe peaked at 20,000).

“There’s a similar story with the popularity of the (VW) e-Golf.
We have very small numbers available until next year, assuming we can get them.”
Broomhall says he has a couple of customers waiting for an e-Golf, but expects a two-month delay.
He says another customer has ordered a Kona Elite, but believes this won’t be available until next year.

“When you combine this with talk of oil hitting US$100 a barrel and the increased price of fuel in our biggest city, domestic demand – in my view – will continue to accelerate.

“Global demand is driving manufacturers to speed things up, but there will be a lag period during which we may see stocks of second-hand product dry up.

“Basically, if you want a new EV, get in now.
You may have a bit more time with the second-hand products, but once real world EVs (350-plus km per charge) come into that market they’ll be snapped up quickly.”
GVI Electric general manager Hayden Johnston agrees.
“We are looking at four to five-month wait times on some of the brand-new vehicles we are ordering from the UK, and facing price increases as demand exceeds supply.”
EV City owner Dave Boot says there’s no doubt the second-hand EV market is exploding worldwide.
“With increased demand naturally comes increased prices.”
Boot says it’s important not to lose sight of why the EV market is so important to the entire population.

He says many complain EVs cost too much and that the government needs to do more to accelerate uptake.
“Nonsense,” Boot says.

“Every time I see a thread of conversations on a forum where laggards are making cost/benefit calculations to try to justify their decision to stay in their dino-juice burning relics, I am disappointed to see that the main benefit of electric vehicles, ‘emissions’, is seldom discussed.

“Any argument against EVs is an admission of ignorance.
Arguing that the rising costs of second-hand EVs is a good reason to stick with gas is like saying that it is cheaper to treat skin cancer than it is to use sunscreen.

“We continue to play on the train tracks because we cannot see the train coming.
Well guess what, ’toot-toot’.

“Hopefully, $2.
40 per litre helps the masses hear the train coming.”
Another delaying factor is recent typhoons hitting Japan.
Typhoon Trami hit on September 30 and October 1, following a similar path to the devastating Typhoon Jebi earlier in September.
Jebi has been described as the worst storm there in 25 years.

That’s had an impact on the used car market, affecting some ports in the worst hit areas and damaging some stock.

“I think it will slow things up too,” says Martin Harwood of Harwood Cars in Auckland, specialising in second-hand Nissan Leafs.

The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has already urged dealers to avoid imported stock damaged in Typhoon Jebi.

“VIA understands that significant numbers of damaged vehicles are now becoming available,” the organisation says in a recent alert.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motors New Zealand doesn’t expect it will be too long before new EV stock arrives.

The company says it’s had an “overwhelming response and level of interest in the Kona Electric since we launched it in August”.

Its Ioniq is still the top-selling new EV in the market, “which reflects EVs’ increased popularity”.

EVs reach 10,248 in New Zealand – see P25.