Coventry Cars embraces electric

Wellington will have its first electric/hybrid only vehicle sales yard when Coventry Cars opens its dedicated site in Lower Hutt on December 1.

Hutt City mayor Ray Wallace, who’s had an EV for more than three years, and Labour list MP Ginny Andersen are among invited guests.

Coventry Cars has been selling vehicles for 23 years since it was founded by owner/director Bruce Stewart.

The dedicated EV yard will be on the larger of two sites facing each other across Railway Avenue.

It will be separated by barriers from the main car yard while still operating under Coventry Cars.

Stewart expects to have around 40 EVs and hybrids on display at the opening, that’s if the cars stop selling almost as fast as they’re being brought in from Japan.

The vehicles are mainly Nissan Leafs (generation 1 to 2), and late model, low mileage hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, Corolla and Lexus.

“I believe in electric cars, and our staff do as well,” Stewart says. “Zero emissions is part of that.”

He says plug-in hybrids offer an option for customers before longer range EVs arrive and all the infrastructure is in place.

Stewart’s also expecting a few Nissan e-NV200 vans and a hybrid Nissan Note e-Power.

Coventry Cars has partnered with Nichibo Japan to help supply the vehicles, and Stewart says he visits Japan about once every two months to check out cars. He also spends about four hours daily on the internet seeking vehicles to bid on. “You have to know the right ones to buy.”

Stewart says demand for EVs has certainly gone up, while margins have dropped.

He’s ensuring plenty of stock will be available, and supplies chargers with them – mainly New Zealand spec OEMs from Paul O’Connor in Christchurch.

A demonstration EV is available for people to try without any obligation.

Coventry Cars has a fast charger in its showroom for customers, and is getting a facelift for the official opening.

Stewart plans to include in that a map of New Zealand charging stations with colour coded pins indicating the types, which can be updated.

Visit www.coventrycars.co.nz or search for them on Facebook.