The electric question: EV City
With petrol over $3.30 a litre, more people than ever are choosing to go electric.
For a host of reasons, prices at the petrol pump just keep climbing. Every region in New Zealand is now above $3.30 a litre, and the AA warns of little relief before Christmas. It’s got plenty of Cantabrians wondering about an electric car, and just as many assuming it means going all in. Electric car expert and owner of EV City on Wordsworth Street, David Boot, answers the most common questions on electric vehicles (EV) versus petrol.
Is an EV actually cheaper to run?
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) puts home overnight charging at about $11 per 100km, and that already includes road user charges. A petrol car covering the same distance is closer to $25. Servicing’s simpler too, costing just $195 a year for a Nissan Leaf when you service it through us. No oil, no spark plugs, no cambelt. Not much to go wrong when there’s barely anything in there.
Do I have to give up my petrol car?
Not at all. Most of our customers don’t. Keep your ute or the wagon for towing and the long hauls. Most people do around 80% of their kilometres around town: school, work, the supermarket. Nobody needs a 3-litre diesel to fetch milk. That’s exactly where an EV shines.
Do I need to spend a fortune?
No. A 40kWh Leaf is from around $17,000 and has plenty of range for city driving. Bigger batteries cost more and they’re there if you want them, but most people overestimate the range they actually need. We ask customers what their longest regular drive is, and it’s usually about as far as Rangiora. Every car we sell comes with an NZ-certified charger, so there’s nothing extra to buy.
So when doesn’t an EV work?
If you’re doing 100km commutes every day, a small battery won’t cut it, though you can spend a bit more and get one that will. And if you’re in an apartment, or a house with nowhere to safely run a charging cable, an EV probably isn’t right for you yet.
One last thing: if you’ve got solar on the roof, an EV is the best thing you can plug into it. Sunshine you’ve already paid for, going straight into the car. That’s about as cheap as motoring gets.
To talk to EV City about whether going electric is for you, drop into the showroom at 158 Wordsworth St, Sydenham. Call the team on 03 972 5505 or see the website at www.evcity.kiwi.
