EVs pass 12,000 milestone

More than 12,000 electric vehicle registrations have been recorded in Ministry of Transport monthly figures released on February 4.

At this rate it looks as if the 16,000 EV goal for 2019 will be reeled in well before the end of this year, with the aim of achieving 64,000 EVs on New Zealand roads by the end of 2021.

The latest statistics show 12,197 EVs registered by the end of January, most of them (7070) in the used light pure electric category which is 288 up on December figures.

New light pure vehicles reached 2070 in January – 65 more than the 2005 recorded in December.

Nearly 2000 new light plug-in hybrids (1988) were recorded – 50 more than the 1938 registered by the end of December.

Used light plug-in hybrids now total 939, which is 43 more than December’s 896.

Heavy EVs increased by three, reaching 130 in January compare with 127 for December.

EV dealers generally had a quieter period towards the end of last year, many blaming delays in getting stock because of the brown marmorated stink bug pest again causing shipping issues, and also increasing global demand for EVs.