Electric vehicle interest surges

The electric vehicle Leading the Charge road trip the length of New Zealand in April and May showed it.

While car dealer comments and Government announcements support the fact that interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and demand for them is increasing rapidly.

Technology changes and lower EV prices are encouraging the trend.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced a year ago to the month wide-ranging measures to increase EV uptake in New Zealand.
After all, EVs have got to be good for our clean, green image.

“It’s clear that electric vehicles are the future,” Bridges says, describing the move from petrol and diesel to low emission transport as “a natural evolution”.

He’s keen to see that happen sooner rather than later, saying we have the renewable energy sources to do it.
EVs are cheaper to run than vehicles with combustion engines and require little servicing.

The Government’s package aims to remove barriers to households and businesses from choosing electric. These include limited selection of EV models available, a lack of widespread public charging infrastructure, and lack of awareness about EVs.

He says progress is being made.
The target is to double EV numbers every year to reach about 64,000 by 2021.
More than 3000 EVs are registered here, and April saw one of the biggest jumps.

Such is New Zealand’s suitability for EVs that some overseas reports say we could be the EV “El Dorado” – meaning a place of fabulous wealth or opportunity.

Similar reports have also suggested we may rival world leaders Norway for EV uptake.
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