Tradies encouraged to switch to EVs

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaining trades should consider switching to sustainable, eco-friendly vehicles like EVs.

So says the Master Plumbers Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc national body.

Welcoming the Government’s proposed ‘Clean Car Discount’ to make electric, hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles more affordable for New Zealanders, the organisation says the trades it represents should embrace technology and sustainability when purchasing vehicles for their businesses.

“We have to think ahead,” Master Plumbers chief executive Greg Wallace says.

“Electric vehicles cost less to run – making them a good business choice – and, thanks to New Zealand’s renewable electricity, they are more environmentally friendly than traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.”

Wallace says the range of EV models here is limited. “So plumbers in rural areas requiring four-wheel drive, or those hauling large amounts of equipment or towing trailers will need to keep using conventional vehicles for now, but EV technology will only get better in the future.”

Some members in urban areas have already been successfully using light electric vehicles in their fleets for years, he adds.

Auckland plumbing company Quix Commercial bought two second-hand Nissan e-NV200 imports in 2017 to add to their fleet.

They cost $25,000 each, including GST, and had just 1500km on the clock. They have now done around 35,000km with very little maintenance costs beyond replacing tyres, wiper blades and air-conditioning filters – with no significant loss of battery capacity.

The company’s manager Dave Henderson says many people have misconceptions that EVs are expensive to buy, won’t go as well as petrol vans, are slow, and run out of charge quickly.

“It’s about changing the mindset.”

The EVs are the fastest vehicles in Quix Commercial’s fleet and have about 130km range.

“We’re based in Auckland, and with all the traffic queues, it takes about three weeks to do that many km round town,” Henderson says.

They’re also economical, with running costs at around 4c per km.

“The EVs cost us around $50 a month to run,” Henderson says. “They’re not suitable for every use but are fantastic for what they do. They’re also surprisingly roomy. There’s definitely more room in the back than in the rear of a dual cab ute.”

The Quix vehicles can be charged anywhere using a standard 10 amp three-pin plug. Vehicles are normally charged overnight at employees’ homes. Metered leads record the power used and staff are reimbursed by the company. A full charge usually lasts all day.

Auckland is well set up for free charging and fast charge is increasingly available in other areas around New Zealand.

“One of our foremen was driving to a job in Whangaparaoa when he realised he was running low on charge,” Henderson says. “He used the (PlugShare) app to find the closest station and had a coffee while he waited. If you compare that to the time and cost involved whenever field staff stop and fill up at the petrol station, a 20-minute coffee break isn’t much to subsidise.”

Henderson has one regret about his EVs – he wishes he’d bought more of them in 2017 when they were cheaper to buy.