Kiwis split on Clean Car scheme

The Government’s Clean Car scheme, which includes a discount on EVs from July 1, has split support from Kiwis, Horizon Research says following an independent survey.

Regardless, enough drivers seem motivated by the cash rebates on offer to significantly change New Zealand’s new and used vehicle markets, it adds, the survey revealing 35% of Kiwis are in support while 40% are opposed.

Overall, the policy creates a potential market of more than 406,000 adults (including around 30% of current EV or hybrid owners) who say it will make them more likely to buy lower emission new and used electric and hybrid vehicles, Horizon says.

Nearly 1500 survey participants were asked: “Overall, do you support or oppose the policy to provide cash rebates for new and used low emission vehicles, and charge a fee for buying high emissions new and used vehicles?”

Results show 14.7% ‘strongly support’, 19.7% ‘support’, 20.2% ‘neither support nor oppose’, 15.7% ‘oppose’, 24.1% ‘strongly oppose’, and 5.7% are ‘not really sure’.

Horizon says support rises as incomes and formal education levels rise. There is, however, no difference by gender nor is support affected by the age of vehicle people currently own.

Support for the scheme is the strongest among 18 to 24-year-olds and 25 to 34-year-olds.

Horizon says support is also higher than average among those who don’t own a vehicle, current hatchback owners, owners of EVs, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and those living in Auckland and Canterbury.

Support is lowest among those who have a ute, an SUV or a van as their main vehicle; those whose main vehicle is diesel, and those living in Northland, Waikato/Coromandel, Taranaki, Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough, West Coast and Otago.

In July, Clean Car sales rose substantially compared with June this year. Last month, 760 pure electric vehicles, 431 PHEVs and 1163 hybrids vehicles were sold – the highest combined total on record and compares to 521 in June.

Horizon says the future decisions of more than 10% of adults could change to cleaner vehicles as a result of the scheme – revealing a significant potential market shift.

About 12% of adults say the scheme will make them more likely to buy a new electric car or hybrid, while 7% say it will make them less likely to do so.

It’s similar for used EVs, with 12% saying the scheme will make them more likely to buy secondhand EVs, while 6% say it will make them less likely to do so.

The potential market shift happens despite most respondents saying it will make no difference to their vehicle buying behaviour (mainly farmers), they can’t afford to change, or they won’t be changing, Horizon adds.

Overall, 18% say it will make no difference to the vehicle they will buy – a view particularly strong among SUV, ute and van owners.

Horizon’s survey reveals cost is a potential driver for people’s opposition to the scheme. Overall, even with the rebates, a net 43% say they still won’t be able to afford a new or used electric or hybrid vehicle.

About 29% overall say they won’t be buying or selling any vehicles.

Horizon Research principal Graeme Colman says the survey indicates vehicle sales companies can tap into a large potential market for an ever-growing number of lower-emission vehicles.

The online survey was held between June 15 and 25.