EV numbers up but growth slowing

This story first appeared in the April issue of AutoTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Electric vehicle registrations are now at 13,186.

The EV figures to March 2019, released by the Ministry of Transport on April 8, show about a 460 increase on the previous month.

Monthly EV registrations recorded are 468 for March compared with 530 in February and 455 in January.

Gains remain highest in the used light pure electric category, up 269 from 7355 in February to 7624 in March.

New light pure electrics jumped 75 from 2152 to 2227, and new light plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) showed a similar rise – up 70 from 2105 to 2175.

Used light PHEV registrations increased to 1026 – a rise of 43 from 983 in February.

Heavy EVs continue their slow climb, up two to 134 in March.

The latest EV stats show the goal of 16,000 EVs by the end of 2019 should easily be met within that time, heading towards the national target of 64,000 EVs by 2021.

The March 2019 EV figure of 13,186 compares with 1226 in March 2016 and just 202 in March 2013.

Registrations to the end of March this year show Auckland has the highest number of light EVs at 6084, followed by Canterbury (1819), Wellington (1705), Otago (806), Waikato (758) and Bay of Plenty (353).

EV listings on Trade Me Motors were down a fraction in March (-0.2%) compared with February, but 80.4% up compared to the previous year.

The number of views for EV listings on Trade Me Motors continues to rise, up 12.6% in March compared with the prior month and up 5.6% on 2018.

Surprisingly, the EV listing price at $25,200 for March is the highest it has been in eight months ($25,500 in August 2018).The price has been hovering around the $24,000-plus area from November 2018 to February 2019.

The top five EV models listed on Trade Me Motors are, in order, the Nissan Leaf (by a long shot), the BMW i3, Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan e-NV200 van and the Smartfortwo (more P29).

Henry Schmidt of Autolink Cars in Auckland says the EV market seems to be slowing but that this could be part of a general economic and business trend in New Zealand.

He agrees with Drive Electric chairman Mark Gilbert there’s little hope of reaching the goal of 64,000 EVs by 2021 set by the previous government without some additional political will.

“The talk is about doubling EV uptake every year but we may not see that unless we have something to help coming from the Government,” Schmidt says.

“Unless they do something we probably won’t hit the target.”
Schmidt says second-hand EVs have never been cheaper, the lowest cost ones selling for about $10,000 to $11,000, so that should encourage buyers.

“And new models are coming out for around $30,000 to $40,000 when they were about $60,000 not long ago.”
He says the number of people selling EVs has also increased.

GVI general manager Hayden Johnston agrees with Schmidt.

He says the EV market is down slightly and that buyers appear to be waiting until the Government does something to help.

“I think things will stall until it does come up with something.”
Johnston says older EVs like the Generation 1 Nissan Leaf are selling cheaply and provide a step up for those aiming to get into a cheaper EV.