THE SALES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS SPEEDING UP IN NEW ZEALAND
At least 44 new electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models will be introduced to the New Zealand market during the next four years.
Between seven and 10 new EV and PHEV models are being introduced each year, says the chief executive of the Motor Industry Association David Crawford.
“Of the total number of planned new plug-in vehicles models between now and the end of 2020, one-third are EVs and two-thirds PHEVs,” he said.
“This is a reasonably strong growth rate.”
There were 56 BMW i3 vehicles registered in April. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Recognising that details such as when a make and model was coming to the market was commercially sensitive, the association had grouped results into broad segments.
Crawford said while the number of new models to be introduced was looking promising, the sales rates of the new models was difficult to predict.
“All models carry a price premium over standard vehicles and will continue to do so for some time.”
However, the association believed the package of Government incentives to increase the number low-emission vehicles on the roads would boost interest from businesses and consumers in buying EVs and PHEVs.
While still relatively a small segment of the total vehicle market, sales of EVs and PHEVs are speeding up.
The biggest-selling EV in New Zealand is the Nissan Leaf, and according to the New Zealand Electric Car Guide, in April 449 were registered In New Zealand. This month that number increased to 534.
Nissan Leaf electric cars at a public electric vehicle charge station. Photo / Alex Robertson
There were 600 fully electric vehicles registered in April, compared with 720 this month.
There were 528 plug-in hybrid vehicles on the roads in April, and this increased to 584 this month.
The best-selling PHEV was the Mitsubishi Outlander, the number of which has increased from 377 in April to 412 this month.
There were 56 BMW i3 hybrids or imported fully electric models registered in April, compared to 66 this month. The third-best-selling hybrid is the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. In April there were 33 registered, compared with 38 this month.