2 Cheap Cars to introduce more EVs into NZ

One of New Zealand’s largest used car retailers has launched a new initiative to replant more than 0.2 hectares of native forest in October.

2 Cheap Cars chief executive Daniel Buckley says they expect to plant around 1000 trees and want to use the opportunity to encourage motorists to drive more sustainably.

Buckley says World Sustainability Day and International Day of Climate Action both fall in October – a timely reminder for the industry to move towards a more sustainable future.

“Our aim is to introduce much larger volumes of electric vehicles into New Zealand as they become available within the secondary market; we also want to leverage our scale to make a positive contribution to the environment.”

Buckley says according to estimates, unleaded petrol-powered cars emit around 115 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

A 25km day translates to 890kg of carbon dioxide, and one tonne of carbon is equivalent to 3.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Actions can be taken by motorists to reduce impact on the environment, especially as school holidays begin and people travel out of town, Buckley says.

“Keep the vehicle’s tyres inflated to the correct pressure, ensure your vehicle is serviced regularly, and check the air filters which can clog and reduce mileage. The additional weight of items left in the boot or a roof rack can reduce fuel efficiency noticeably,” Buckley says.

“Drivers should avoid peak traffic times where they can, and also try to plan ahead to take the shortest route; if they own more than one vehicle, take the one which uses the least fuel.”

The trees will be planted by the Native Forest Restoration Trust, a charitable organisation, in the Professor WR McGregor Reserve in Northland. Over 80,000 native trees have been planted over the last three years.

2 Cheap Cars will plant one native tree for every vehicle purchased during October.

Buckley recently replaced Eugene Williams as 2 Cheap Cars chief executive. Check out the latest issue of AutoTalk here for more information.