The Government’s announcement of an electric vehicle (EV) programme early this month has brought this segment into the public eye more than before.
The Government wants to double the number of EVs in New Zealand each year to reach about 64,000 by 2021.
To encourage more Kiwis to buy EVs, there are such initiatives as a promotion campaign over five years, plus EVs to be able to use bus lanes.
In a previous editorial I’ve said that this isn’t enough, that there needs to be more incentives for Kiwis to buy EVs, such as a cash or tax rebate.
Our car industry is trying to encourage more electric vehicles on New Zealand roads with a bigger range of products for Kiwis customers.
This week, I was the first motoring editor in New Zealand to drive BMW’s all-new 3 Series plug in hybrid.
BMW’s competitors, Audi and Mercedes-Benz NZ, are adding more EVs to their ranges while Japanese-built electric cars have been on sale to here since 2011, new and used, with Nissan’s Leaf a popular second-hand import.
The Government’s programme has got the public talking with three friends asking me this week about electric vehicles.
One friend was considering an EV — though as a petrol head he hated that the only noise coming from such a vehicle was the whir of the battery instead of the roar of a V6 or V8 engine.
A plug-in hybrid’s pure electric range of up 30km didn’t suit my friend’s 40km one way commute each day, but he liked the low emissions from EVs and the cost efficiency.
Like my friend, more Kiwis will be thinking EV for their next car.