EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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

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Ultimate Geek
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#3474602 28-Mar-2026 10:14

richms:

While the flood of Japans cast off cars continues, that will be what a majority of people drive here. Aqua or similar off a lot with finance is the lowest cost entry into car ownership. That has removed all the starter finance type deals on new cars that you see elsewhere. For EVs to take that over will take a shift in the NZ car buying market to be more in line with the rest of the world where its common to buy a crapbox NPC car new off the lot.

Most certainly the massive shift in new car sales to EVs that I expect, will only be the new car market, which is a lot smaller than the 2nd hand car market. The big change in the 2nd hand car market will be more gradual and take much longer. More new EVs will help change the 2nd hand car market, but not immediately.

gzt

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#3474648 28-Mar-2026 10:19

alasta: I think the big question is whether that increase in fuel cost will be disproportionate to the increase in the cost of public charging considering the structural challenges we have in NZ's electricity market.

Things like the Genesis EV plan jump that potential barrier but it won't be an option for everyone. I'm guessing the margin will start to drop when the build out is more or less complete and there is more confidence in establishing competition in an existing stable charging market. NZ First has announced it's intention to reform the electricity market with a gentailer split so something will probably happen in that area after the next election.

gzt

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#3474649 28-Mar-2026 10:22

MarkH67:
richms:

While the flood of Japans cast off cars continues, that will be what a majority of people drive here. Aqua or similar off a lot with finance is the lowest cost entry into car ownership. That has removed all the starter finance type deals on new cars that you see elsewhere. For EVs to take that over will take a shift in the NZ car buying market to be more in line with the rest of the world where its common to buy a crapbox NPC car new off the lot.

Most certainly the massive shift in new car sales to EVs that I expect, will only be the new car market, which is a lot smaller than the 2nd hand car market. The big change in the 2nd hand car market will be more gradual and take much longer. More new EVs will help change the 2nd hand car market, but not immediately.

Battery cost continues to fall. There is some potential for BEV entry new price cost to fall below ice new price. That will help things move along.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3474651 28-Mar-2026 10:44

alasta:

Noted that the fuel economy debate is out of scope for this thread but, suffice to say, a hybrid is cheaper to fuel than an electric vehicle dependant on public charging. I have run the numbers, and have assumed fleet-wide RUC in my calculations to adjust out the road tax inequity between petrol and electric.

In the interests of steering this back on topic, I really like the look of the MG S5 and the upcoming update to the BYD Atto 3 and would happily consider these as my next car if we continue to see sustained long term fuel price increases as Tony probably quite rightly predicted in his post above. I think the big question is whether that increase in fuel cost will be disproportionate to the increase in the cost of public charging considering the structural challenges we have in NZ's electricity market.

The big factor that comes into play there is how much rooftop solar increases over the coming years. Like the recent spike in EV uptake due to the fuel crisis the interest in solar is price driven both in terms of installation costs reducing and grid supply prices increasing.

If solar uptake occurs at significant pace it will offset demand on grid supply issues to a large degree and also has the potential to buffer demand by way of V2G adoption. As any PV & EV owner well knows the synergy opportunities of these two technologies influences the ROI equation positively for both assets. If only our government could appreciate and promote the benefits of solar and EV uptake rather than economics leading the charge in their uptake by the public.

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dafman

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#3474652 28-Mar-2026 10:44

gzt: I'm guessing the margin will start to drop when the build out is more or less complete and there is more confidence in establishing competition in an existing stable charging market.

Ever since the deregulation of electricity in the early 90’s, prices and margins have only gone one way. There’s nothing to suggest the future will be any different.

So, I’m guessing the opposite - as BEV stocks grow, the aggregate demand for electricity will increase which will increase electricity pricing. Not only will this reduce the cost effectiveness of BEV over ICE, it will lift the domestic electricity price for general home use.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3474653 28-Mar-2026 10:49

dafman:

gzt: I'm guessing the margin will start to drop when the build out is more or less complete and there is more confidence in establishing competition in an existing stable charging market.

Ever since the deregulation of electricity in the early 90’s, prices and margins have only gone one way. There’s nothing to suggest the future will be any different.

So, I’m guessing the opposite - as BEV stocks grow, the aggregate demand for electricity will increase which will increase electricity pricing. Not only will this reduce the cost effectiveness of BEV over ICE, it will lift the domestic electricity price for general home use.

As per my post above the potential for widespread solar uptake to turn your assumptions on their heads shouldn't be discounted.

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MarkH67

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Ultimate Geek
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#3474671 28-Mar-2026 12:35

dafman:

So, I’m guessing the opposite - as BEV stocks grow, the aggregate demand for electricity will increase which will increase electricity pricing.

Wouldn't that tilt things in favour of solar + BEV with V2G capability? The higher the electricity pricing, the quicker the payback for the solar + V2G.

lchiu7

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#3474683 28-Mar-2026 13:21

gzt:
alasta: I think the big question is whether that increase in fuel cost will be disproportionate to the increase in the cost of public charging considering the structural challenges we have in NZ's electricity market.

Things like the Genesis EV plan jump that potential barrier but it won't be an option for everyone. I'm guessing the margin will start to drop when the build out is more or less complete and there is more confidence in establishing competition in an existing stable charging market. NZ First has announced it's intention to reform the electricity market with a gentailer split so something will probably happen in that area after the next election.

I think it's been alluded to before, but you don't need to be able to charge at home to be on the Genesis EV plan. You just need to show you have an EV. While this not apply to everybody, if you then happen to live near a Chargenet charger, you can charge your car and use the Genesis EV rates. If you don't mind spending say 30-40 minutes after 9pm sitting in the car, then you will be paying 19c/kWh (including GST). That is what I pay when I charge at night but of course it takes all night to charge the car. But, and YMMV, I would do that if I lived in say an apartment with no way to charge but near a Chargenet charger.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

dafman

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#3474780 28-Mar-2026 18:19

lchiu7:

If you don't mind spending say 30-40 minutes after 9pm sitting in the car, then you will be paying 19c/kWh (including GST).

Great it works for you. But you have no chance of convincing the masses.

gzt

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#3474825 28-Mar-2026 18:31

BYD launches Song Ultra EV long-range in China - Blade Battery 2.0 + flash charge capable:

https://electrek.co/2026/03/26/byd-launches-song-ultra-ev-orders-top-21500-in-20-days/

lchiu7

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#3474913 29-Mar-2026 11:39

dafman:

lchiu7:

If you don't mind spending say 30-40 minutes after 9pm sitting in the car, then you will be paying 19c/kWh (including GST).

Great it works for you. But you have no chance of convincing the masses.

I have no skin in this game, just providing a PSA. I don't need to convince anybody. But out of interest I put some figures in an AI (too lazy to do the calculations myself) and got this result.

Assuming you can't charge at home but you visit a supermarket once a week and it has Chargenet chargers and you take say take 40 minutes to do shopping (we appear to take this long for some reason :-( ). On my Atto3 whic his averaging 14.2kW/100km I get these cost comparisons for the 40 minute charge using the Genesis EV plan (daytime rates)

EV TRIP COST (40 MINUTE CHARGE)

Vehicle: BYD Atto 3 Charger Type: 50kW DC Fast Charger Energy Added: 33.33 kWh Range Gained: 234.7 km (at 14.2 kWh/100km)

Electricity Rate: $0.32 + GST ($0.368/kWh) Electricity Cost: $12.27 Road User Charges (RUC): $16.90 (at $72/1,000 km)

TOTAL EV COST: $29.17

PETROL TRIP COST (EQUIVALENT DISTANCE)

Vehicle: Petrol Car Consumption: 8 L per 100 km Distance: 234.7 km Total Fuel Used: 18.78 Liters Fuel Price: $3.60 per Liter

TOTAL PETROL COST: $67.61

SUMMARY FOR 234.7 KM

EV Total Cost: $29.17 Petrol Total Cost: $67.61

TOTAL SAVINGS WITH EV: $38.44 (EV is approx. 57% cheaper than petrol at these rates)

So in one charge a week I get 234km which is plenty for me but perhaps those who drive daily on job cimmutes, it's not enough. But the cost savings with more charging and more petrol remain.

I don't really know what an average ICE mileage is these days but 8l/100km seems like a reasonable number

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gzt

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#3474970 29-Mar-2026 12:27

As a class leading (Toyota: ) hybrid owner at a consistent 4.4 liters per 100km and doing relatively high kilometers semi-rural my personal view is that I'm going to save on lifetime maintenance by going EV / increasing my EV use.

Toyota hybrid is extremely low maintenance but like any ICE still requires regular oil change and all that stuff.

EV requires less maint expenditure. I also save by avoiding garage visits involving unnecessary chocolate bars, coffees, temptation to use the car wash..

fastbike

443 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#3474982 29-Mar-2026 13:09

lchiu7:

I have no skin in this game, just providing a PSA. I don't need to convince anybody. But out of interest I put some figures in an AI (too lazy to do the calculations myself) and got this result.

Assuming you can't charge at home but you visit a supermarket once a week and it has Chargenet chargers and you take say take 40 minutes to do shopping (we appear to take this long for some reason :-( ). On my Atto3 whic his averaging 14.2kW/100km I get these cost comparisons for the 40 minute charge using the Genesis EV plan (daytime rates)

EV TRIP COST (40 MINUTE CHARGE)

Vehicle: BYD Atto 3 Charger Type: 50kW DC Fast Charger Energy Added: 33.33 kWh Range Gained: 234.7 km (at 14.2 kWh/100km)

Electricity Rate: $0.32 + GST ($0.368/kWh) Electricity Cost: $12.27 Road User Charges (RUC): $16.90 (at $72/1,000 km)

TOTAL EV COST: $29.17

PETROL TRIP COST (EQUIVALENT DISTANCE)

Vehicle: Petrol Car Consumption: 8 L per 100 km Distance: 234.7 km Total Fuel Used: 18.78 Liters Fuel Price: $3.60 per Liter

TOTAL PETROL COST: $67.61

SUMMARY FOR 234.7 KM

EV Total Cost: $29.17 Petrol Total Cost: $67.61

TOTAL SAVINGS WITH EV: $38.44 (EV is approx. 57% cheaper than petrol at these rates)

So in one charge a week I get 234km which is plenty for me but perhaps those who drive daily on job cimmutes, it's not enough. But the cost savings with more charging and more petrol remain.

I don't really know what an average ICE mileage is these days but 8l/100km seems like a reasonable number

I used a 22kW Chargenet AC Charger this morning, only 40c per unit so double what I pay at home but half of a DC fast charger

And that's with no plan

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HarmLessSolutions

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#3474986 29-Mar-2026 13:19

lchiu7:

I have no skin in this game, just providing a PSA. I don't need to convince anybody. But out of interest I put some figures in an AI (too lazy to do the calculations myself) and got this result.

Assuming you can't charge at home but you visit a supermarket once a week and it has Chargenet chargers and you take say take 40 minutes to do shopping (we appear to take this long for some reason :-( ). On my Atto3 whic his averaging 14.2kW/100km I get these cost comparisons for the 40 minute charge using the Genesis EV plan (daytime rates)

EV TRIP COST (40 MINUTE CHARGE)

Vehicle: BYD Atto 3 Charger Type: 50kW DC Fast Charger Energy Added: 33.33 kWh Range Gained: 234.7 km (at 14.2 kWh/100km)

Electricity Rate: $0.32 + GST ($0.368/kWh) Electricity Cost: $12.27 Road User Charges (RUC): $16.90 (at $72/1,000 km)

TOTAL EV COST: $29.17

.....

Not being nit-picking but I'm curious as to where AI has sourced its RUC rate info. Should be $76/1,000km, and $72 doesn't even correlate with a GST exclusive price.

Like the old saying goes "If you want a job done properly you're best to do it yourself" is becoming all too true as research is outsourced to somebody's random software package.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

gzt

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#3474990 29-Mar-2026 13:38

fastbike: I used a 22kW Chargenet AC Charger this morning, only 40c per unit so double what I pay at home but half of a DC fast charger And that's with no plan

Oh yeah! I'm not the only person to have completely missed that in the pricing mail!

That's enough for my occasional 'get me home' charge.

I don't use it often enough to know. Now I'm wondering if I've fast charged at the higher rate when I really didn't need to..

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