Petrol price rises good for EVs

Bad news for internal combustion engine (ICE) drivers is good news for EVs.

More interest in EVs is expected by EV dealerships and Drive Electric chair Mark Gilbert following reports fuel prices are the highest they’ve been all year and are likely to continue upwards.

“People need to be reading the tea leaves as change is coming,” Gilbert says, referring to news that automotive manufacturers are hastening moves into the EV space, especially in Europe.

Gilbert says he recently drove his Audi e-tron on about a 500km round trip between Auckland and Tauranga, paying just $55 to charge it up and arriving back with as much “juice” as he left with.

“I doubt anyone can do that trip much cheaper, especially in an ICE vehicle,” he says.

“Electric charges are the equivalent of about 30-40 cents a litre of fuel.”

Gilbert says people should be aware of the general switch to EVs and plan and learn accordingly, especially of an EV’s benefits.

“The only fluid I use is water to top up the windscreen washer.”

AA Petrolwatch spokesman Mark Stockdale says fuel prices are the highest they have been all year, largely because of rising global commodity prices.

That’s particularly as COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out and global economic confidence grows.

A Stuff report reveals some of the cheaper fuel prices in various areas.