The adoption of plug-in electric vehicles in New Zealand is supported by New Zealand Government policies, including monetary incentives such as electric vehicle discounts, exemptions from road user charges, and electric vehicle sales targets.[1][2][3][4] As of November 2023, there were 100,874 plug-in electric vehicles in New Zealand, consisting of 72,074 battery-electric vehicles and 28,771 plug-in hybrid vehicles, together making up 2.1% of the national fleet of 4.8 million vehicles.[5]

Tesla Model 3 for $68,930 (before EV discount) was the second most popular vehicle sold in New Zealand in September 2021.[6][7][8] The Tesla Model 3 was also the most popular electric vehicle sold in New Zealand in 2021.[9]
MG ZS is New Zealand's second most popular electric vehicle in 2021 for $48,990 (before EV discount).[9]
Hyundai Kona Electric is New Zealand's third most popular electric vehicle in 2021 for $69,990 (before EV discount)[10][9]
Charging station in Westport
Queue at an EV charger in Murchison

Government incentives

The National-led government launched an Electric Vehicle Programme in May 2016 to encourage EV uptake.[11] Electric vehicles in New Zealand were exempt from road user charges, and this has since been extended until 31 March 2024.[12] EV owners were able to access bus lanes and get preferential parking,[3] however that was removed due to limited success and local authorities did not want the effectiveness of bus lanes watered down. There are subsidies available for the installation of public EV chargers.[7] New Zealand also proposed a “cash for clunkers” scheme, incentivising low-income drivers to trade their petrol or diesel cars for a discounted electric vehicle.[13]

In July 2019, the government proposed a Clean Car Discount of up to NZD 8,000 on purchases of new zero-emissions vehicles, and a charge of up to NZD 3,000 for new vehicles that emit more than 250g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.[3] The Clean Car Discount was in effect from July 2021 to December 2023, with a used EV being subsidised up to NZD 3,450 and a used PHEV up to NZD 2,300.[7] This scheme was ended by the newly elected government on 31 December 2023.[14]

In 2022 the Government enacted a Clean Car Standard that would phase-in a stepped reduction in the average emissions of most new and used imported passenger vehicles to 145 grams per kilometre travelled in 2023, dropping to 63.3g/km in 2027, with financial penalties if the targets are not met.[15] These targets would ensure New Zealand cleans the entire car fleet by 2027 and both achieves and surpasses the European Union's fuel efficiency targets.[15] As well as setting CO2 targets, the Clean Vehicles Act passed in February 2022 also imposed charges on the purchase of high CO2 emission cars, which will accelerate electric vehicle adoption.[16]

The New Zealand Government has a target for 50% of all light vehicle registrations by 2029 to be electric vehicles and 100% by 2035.[17] The New Zealand Government will ban the sale and importation of petrol and diesel vehicles between 2035 and 2040.[18][19][17] This is despite the Climate Change Commission recommending banning petrol and diesel cars by 2032.[17] Higher parking fees, congestion charges and road pricing are also being considered by the government to increase EV adoption.[19]

Charging infrastructure

As of June 2023, there are over 315 electric vehicle DC chargers across New Zealand at over 275 locations.[20] Type 2 CCS and CHAdeMO are the standard connections for DC chargers in New Zealand.[21]

In April 2017, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency set a vision of at least one rapid DC charger every 75 km (47 mi) across the state highway network. As of June 2023, this is largely complete with some gaps in low-traffic and hard-to-reticulate areas: State Highway 43, State Highway 63, State Highway 7 over Lewis Pass, State Highway 6 over Haast Pass, and State Highway 94 to Milford Sound.[22]

Sales

In September 2021, New Zealand's electric vehicle registrations reached 12.5% of new car sales.[23] This was an increase from electric vehicles representing 6.45% of new car sales in July 2021.[1] Furthermore, new passenger vehicle sales also comprised 11.8% of electric vehicle registrations in July 2021.[1] Approximately 43% of the battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) sold in New Zealand in September 2021 were pure-electric vehicles.[8] September 2021 was also the first month in which pure-electric vehicles outsold hybrid vehicles in New Zealand.[8] In fact, 21% of all vehicle sales in September 2021 had some form of electrification.[7] New Zealand had originally aimed for 2% of all new vehicle sales to be EVs by the end of 2021, or have a minimum of 64,000 electric vehicle sales yearly.[7] 1 in 5 car sales in September 2021 were electric vehicles in New Zealand.[7]

In 2020 there were more EVs in New Zealand than in Australia, despite Australia having five times the population of New Zealand.[4] However, since 2021, Australia has overtaken New Zealand in having more total electric vehicles on the road.[7] 26,000 EVs were registered in New Zealand in 2020, and the government plans to have an additional 60,000 electric vehicles on New Zealand roads by 2023.[4] However, in 2019, New Zealand planned to have 64,000 electric vehicles in the country by 2021 when it was projected New Zealand would reach 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030.[2] As of 2021, New Zealand plans to lead Asia in electric vehicle adoption and through having the highest EV market share of new car sales by 2029.[3] New Zealand has been called "The Norway of the Pacific" for the country's high EV uptake.[23] The government plans for 30,000 EVs to be sold in 2025.[3] 30% of New Zealand's light vehicle fleet is planned to be electric by 2035.[13] The Government targets to reduce car travel by 20% by 2035.[23]

Statistics

Light EV fleet size in New Zealand[5]
Type2013201420152016201720182019 202020212022
New PHEVs112244517791,1991,9392,880 3,6406,11413,393
New BEVs1001392065811,2632,0043,861 5,41212,17728,099
Used PHEVs02151164568971,544 2,2223,2925,219
Used BEVs541253211,0133,2276,79910,241 12,60815,29818,976
Total EVs1654909932,4896,14511,63918,526 23,88236,88165,687

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Zealand marks 5,850 EV sales so far in 2021". electrive.com. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Parkinson, Giles (12 April 2019). "New Zealand tipped to reach 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030". The Driven. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "New Zealand's EV Market Gets A Boost With New Government Directive". REGlobal. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Fernyhough, James (6 May 2021). "Siemens signs deal to bring EV charging equipment to New Zealand". The Driven. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Fleet Statistics". Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Design Your Model 3 | Tesla". www.tesla.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Record September for NZ new vehicle sales – and 1 in 5 is electric". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Hunter, Callum. "NZ Sales: Tesla charges up sales charts". GoAuto. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "These are the most popular electric and electrified vehicles in NZ". Stuff. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "EV Models and Where to Buy". driveelectric.org.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Electric Vehicles". Ministry of Transport New Zealand. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Electric Vehicles Programme | Ministry of Transport". www.transport.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 Vorrath, Sophie (14 October 2021). "New Zealand flags "cash for clunkers" scheme to drive shift to EVs". The Driven. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Edwards, Richard (13 December 2023). "Details of Clean Car Discount cancellation". EVs & Beyond. Auto Media Group. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  15. 1 2 "NZ should be a 'fast follower' reducing car emissions, says Ford boss". Stuff. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Clean Cars | Ministry of Transport". www.transport.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 "New Zealand unveils $8,600 subsidy for electric vehicles to reduce emissions". the Guardian. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Cop26: carmakers agree to end sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040". the Guardian. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Government could ban fuel-burning cars by 2050, with imports ending 2035". Stuff. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  20. ↑ EECA. "New Zealand Public EV Charger Map". EECA. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Charging point connectors and socket outlets | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  22. ↑ "Enabling a nationwide network of public EV charging infrastructure | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 Waterworth, David (15 October 2021). "Will New Zealand Become the Norway of the Pacific?". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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