EV numbers continue climbing

Like yeast, electric vehicle numbers in New Zealand continue to rise.

EVs here hit 7233 in March – 333 more than the previous month.

At this rate EVs should reach the 8000 end-of-year target in about May, more than six months early.

That would double last year’s EV figures, with the goal for each year doubling the previous target (16,000 next year) until the Government’s aim of 64,000 EVs on our roads by the end of 2021 is met.

Growth was across all EV sectors, according to the latest Ministry of Transport figures.

New light pure electrics reached 1423 (up 67 on February), used pure light electrics rose 165 to 3829, new light plug-in hybrids recorded 1351 (up 57), used light plug-in hybrids went to 549 (up 42) and heavy EVs increased by two to reach 81.

In March last year, EV figures were just 3187.

EV registrations for the first three months of this year are 1041 -not far off the 1516 for all of 2016 and double that of 2015 (505).

March’s light EV registrations were 337, comprising 209 used EVS and 126 new.

The March registration figure is above the previous month (February recorded 288) but below January’s 416. It is the sixth highest monthly figure since August last year.