EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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#3472921 23-Mar-2026 23:31

You've named a couple but you're right I was thinking mainly of shooting brake style - on the basis that many of those are big enough to replace my small Japanese hybrid wagon kind of similar to the Corolla size you mentioned. For instance:

https://www.giltrap.com/vehicles/stocked/2025-skoda-enyaq-sportline-85-210kw-dff9ee4a-c8b4-495e-b9f0-eed88ea78173

I'd see that Skoda Enyak as a similar size and shape replacement. But yes, definitely a performance and lux vehicle compared to a Corolla. Other than Toyota very slim availability in that form factor in that price bracket. If the giltrap site wasn't so cranky perhaps there are more.

SaltyNZ

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#3472922 23-Mar-2026 23:32

jarledb:

I think National is still wrong to assume that more chargers = more EVs.

The companies running the chargers have to have customers. If there is not enough EVs on the road, there won't be a market for a lot of extra chargers.

National don't care about EVs. They care about fossil fuels. That should be pretty obvious from [gestures at literally everything they've done].

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#3472923 23-Mar-2026 23:34

kangaroo13:

gzt:
kangaroo13: Plus - if you want something other than a little run-about, sedan or SUV. Like a wagon, for example. Zip choice there.

It's not entirely zero for EV. Ie; not entirely dissimilar to the current ICE market in that form factor.

Name me an EV wagon for sale in NZ. Not a 'shooting brake' styling exercise, but a proper wagon.

Overseas, there is the Pug 308 / Astra. But, not sold in NZ. Also compromised by being based upon an ICE platform.

The MG5 wagon - also unavailable in NZ. And shocking crash test rating.

VW ID.7, not yet availalble here. There were rumours of a Skoda Octavia like wagon, but it sounds like that's been pushed back a few years.

Nio ET5 - the brand is not yet launched here (not sure if the ET5 wagon is built in RHD anywhere as yet).

OK - so Audi A6 e-tron and BMW i5 Touring. Eye-wateringly expensive (double my budget, plus some!), and way, way more car than most of us need.

Granted ICE are wagons are a dying breed also, but there are still a few out there. I think you can still buy new Skoda Octavia & Superb wagons, Subaru WRX (Levorg), Corolla, and going upmarket some Audi and BMW "estates". Unfortunately, I hear that Subaru are moving Outback across to an SUV form factor, and the good old Liberty/Legacy wagon is long dead, as are the Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo wagons.

Seal station wagon. Coming soon enough that when I went in to put a deposit down on the (regular) Seal, they asked me if I wanted one.

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gzt

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#3472925 23-Mar-2026 23:46

Isn't that one a PHEV?

kangaroo13

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#3472965 24-Mar-2026 09:13

Re: Seal Wagon

gzt: Isn't that one a PHEV?

Yes - seems via a quick Google, that is the case. Still - I wasn't aware of this development, and it shows some promising signs in the right direction.

It's a nice looking car, good size, and not so bad electric-only range of 100km+ ...

Should be noted that the Octavia wagon is also available as a PHEV, but with a woeful electric-only range (60km, and that's probably optimistic from what I hear)

johno1234

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#3473000 24-Mar-2026 10:45

BYD make what I consider to be a "proper" PHEV - there is no mechanical drive of the wheels by the ICE engine. The wheels are driven only by electric motor(s)/battery. So it essentially drives as a BEV. There is no gearbox etc. The ICE is free to operate as an optimal constant speed generator. Their PHEV batteries are large enough that with routine overnight home charging they would never use any petrol for urban driving.

[update] according to ChatGPT the Sealion6 is a parallel hybrid that does have a transmission from engine to wheels... who to believe?

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Obraik

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#3473102 24-Mar-2026 12:30

johno1234:

BYD make what I consider to be a "proper" PHEV - there is no mechanical drive of the wheels by the ICE engine. The wheels are driven only by electric motor(s)/battery. So it essentially drives as a BEV. There is no gearbox etc. The ICE is free to operate as an optimal constant speed generator. Their PHEV batteries are large enough that with routine overnight home charging they would never use any petrol for urban driving.

[update] according to ChatGPT the Sealion6 is a parallel hybrid that does have a transmission from engine to wheels... who to believe?

At least with the Shark, ChatGPT is right. Primarily the engine is just a generator, but it can also power the wheels directly if extra power is required.

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MarkH67

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#3473108 24-Mar-2026 13:14

johno1234:

[update] according to ChatGPT the Sealion6 is a parallel hybrid that does have a transmission from engine to wheels... who to believe?

Look for a vehicle described as an EREV (extended range EV).

Better yet, go full BEV unless absolutely necessary, there are plenty of decent range EVs on the market.

Scott3

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#3473133 24-Mar-2026 13:47

Best to not get hung up on if a PHEV can connect the engine mechanically to the wheels or not. The original Ranger extender EV was the Chevy volt. This did have a mechanical link, despite the marketing team going to great lengths to say the engine only charges the battery. Just let the engineers do what they think is best, and judge the cars on efficiency in hybrid mode (Frustratingly this is not published with economy data...)

On the topic of BEV wagons, it's the:

i5 Touring
S6 etron Avant
Taycan Sport Turismo

Or used import & low volume

BYD E6
MG5

It's a real pity VW don't bring the ID.7 Tourer here. Would be a very welcome addion.

As a general not, and this is not EV specific.

SUV's are replacing the Mazda 6 wagon segment. i.e. those buyers are getting Rav4's, model Y's etc.

Ford Falcon wagon to be retired by June

Utes with Canopies have replaced the traditional "Proper" station wagons.

Amusingly we are now getting wagon SUV's. 600-669L of boot space in the below, vs 452L in the regular SUV version.

Jaxson

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#3473161 24-Mar-2026 15:05

johno1234:

BYD make what I consider to be a "proper" PHEV - there is no mechanical drive of the wheels by the ICE engine. The wheels are driven only by electric motor(s)/battery. So it essentially drives as a BEV. There is no gearbox etc. The ICE is free to operate as an optimal constant speed generator. Their PHEV batteries are large enough that with routine overnight home charging they would never use any petrol for urban driving.

So a 2014 Mitsi Outlander basically. Electric motor on each axle. Petrol motor to charge battery, kicks in when battery flat or when heavier load is required. At a certain speed where the revs align a clutch engages to direct drive the front wheels. There is no transmission. Varying assistance levels to recharge the battery under braking. Takes about 4 hours to charge on a standard home plug. Handles around town with no petrol engine starting if driven efficiently. Can cool on AC without ICE, heating though requires hot water from engine. Plays that Mitsi UFO space sound when lower speed to alert people to it's presence for safety.

Jaxson

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#3473167 24-Mar-2026 15:11

PHEV is ideal in certain circumstances, or is the worst of both worlds in others.

Open road petrol backup for long distance drives, but lugging a heavy battery on the trip. Scores RUC even though on open road uses the same amount of petrol as a petrol car because it's heavier.
Vice Versa In electric mode you're lugging a heavy engine weight and fuel tank around.

Also these are often built on an ICE platform, a PHEV variant of a wider ICE range, so the design didn't make use of the space well from a space/weight distribution/aero perspective.

In some regards (dependant on use case if using petrol often in a PHEV) might be better off with the Toyota approach with a tiny 2km max range battery, kinetic energy recovery and electric motor used to start moving the car off the line before the more efficient but not particularly powerful Atkinson cycle ICE takes over once rolling. No RUC charge there.

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kangaroo13

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#3473187 24-Mar-2026 16:19

Jaxson:

PHEV is ideal in certain circumstances, or is the worst of both worlds in others.

...

Yes - tend to agree. A few years ago when full BEV were not as good as today, and before RUC on PHEV, I may have gone with PHEV as kind of the 'best' of both worlds. But I feel that has flipped now, and am holding out for the 'right' BEV. If I was forced to replace my car today, I'd be torn between buying a 2nd hand ICE wagon to see me through another few years, or compromise with one of the current BEVs. I'd kick the tyres on a PHEV, but I doubt I'd go down that road.

Maybe there's a BYD Seal wagon BEV on the product horizon ...

robjg63

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#3473237 24-Mar-2026 16:34

SaltyNZ:

jarledb:

I think National is still wrong to assume that more chargers = more EVs.

The companies running the chargers have to have customers. If there is not enough EVs on the road, there won't be a market for a lot of extra chargers.

National don't care about EVs. They care about fossil fuels. That should be pretty obvious from [gestures at literally everything they've done].

Agreed. All this BS about being "financially prudent" etc just means never planning for the future and just kicking that old can down the road.

Tell me how potentially spending up large on LNG storage is anything but a burden for the next generation.

Put that same money into expansion of wind, solar and battery storage and the next generation would reap the benefits.

(At least that windbag Shane Jones did start talking about geothermal investment recently - I nearly fell over in shock)

Reliance on fossil fuels means we are now hemorrhaging the countries precious overseas exchange at the fastest rate ever.

The more expensive it gets, the broker the country gets.

If we did a push for home solar and increased EV uptake - how long would the payback be - not to add the security of supply.

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deepred

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#3473240 24-Mar-2026 16:42

Posted on Reddit (hybrid owners maybe have just 1 level penalty):

r/nzev - Alert levels for EV owners

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"Create a society that values material things above all else. Strip it of industry. Raise taxes for the poor and reduce them for the rich and for corporations. Prop up failed financial institutions with public money. Ask for more tax, while vastly reducing public services. Put adverts everywhere, regardless of people's ability to afford the things they advertise. Allow the cost of food and housing to eclipse people's ability to pay for them. Light blue touch paper." — Andrew Maxwell

kangaroo13

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#3473250 24-Mar-2026 17:01

robjg63:

Put that same money into expansion of wind, solar and battery storage and the next generation would reap the benefits.

(At least that windbag Shane Jones did start talking about geothermal investment recently - I nearly fell over in shock)

Should add some extra hydro generation, including some pumped hydro in the mix.

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