ev trip planner nz

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• Motoring blog

Owning an EV: Planning a long road trip in your electric car

Thinking of going on a road trip this summer? When you own a battery electric vehicle, you can drive the length and breadth of New Zealand at an extremely low cost – but it does take a bit of planning. Here are seven steps to get yourself completely sorted out before you hit the road in your EV:

1. Map out the charging pit stops around activities or meal breaks

Whenever you’re on a road trip, you need to ensure you take regular breaks to stretch your legs and refresh. Because it takes longer to recharge than to refuel, by matching up your break spots with charging stations you can make the trip more enjoyable. There are 344 charging sites available across New Zealand, and you can find them all on the Waka Kotahi EV charger map or by using the AA Time and Distance Calculator .

2. Your mileage may vary

To get the stated range from your EV, you need to drive it in optimal conditions. But in real life, you’ll be driving in varied conditions and circumstances, which will reduce your range. Your range will be diminished by:

• Driving fast and braking heavily
• Very hot or very cold weather
• Hilly terrain
• Running your air conditioning
• Heavy loads like extra passengers and luggage

With all these factors in mind, you should allow for a decent margin of error in your range calculations – don’t rely on the stated range.

3. Be prepared to have a backup plan

It’s possible you will arrive at a charging station and find it’s unavailable or out of order, or very busy with other EV owners. Although it’s uncommon, this would be distressing if you were relying on that charger to get you to your destination. Never leave yourself reliant on a specific charger, always have enough charge to get to several other charging sites.

4. Check what type of charger your car uses

You’ll need to match your charger type with the stations that can accommodate it. DC chargers will usually have a cable which you can connect to your vehicle, but AC chargers will often require you to use your own cable.

5. Sign up for different charging apps to map out your trip in advance

You can use various apps to help you plan your EV trip. EVRoam is Waka Kotahi’s live database of the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. It has real-time information from all our public charging points, and for automated chargers it shows availability. It’s the database that feeds into several other providers apps, including AA .

The ChargeNet app may also be useful. ChargeNet is the country’s largest EV charging network, with 280-plus chargers. Its app shows you any network issues, and EVerywhere users can get at-home charging rates when they recharge with ChargeNet.

6. Be time smart with your charging

Start by charging your EV to 100% before you leave for your road trip. It’s cheap and you can do it overnight. Then, when you’re on the road, charging only to 80% will save you a considerable amount of time. It doesn’t take too long to add the first 10% to your battery, then a little longer for the next 10%, and so on. Getting to 100% is relatively time-consuming, so much so that ChargeNet only ever allows you to reach 95%.

Sticking to 80% while travelling will save you time and free up the charger for the next person. When you reach your accommodation, that’s the perfect time to charge back to 100% while you’re sleeping or relaxing. Most places will have somewhere available for you to plug in, which is often free and will set you up nicely for the day’s driving ahead.

7. Drive safely!

Your holiday starts on the trip, so make the most out of by driving safely and enjoying the experience. Visit AA Traveller for more travel tips and ideas, ways to explore, AA Member discounts and more.

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10 tips for your EV road trip

Are you ready to hit the open road and embark on a classic Kiwi tradition? With its 93,000km of roads, New Zealand is a road-tripper’s paradise, and with an EV, you can experience the beauty of the country in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.

In this article, we’ve compiled 10 tips to help you plan a successful and stress-free road trip in your EV. Not only will you save money on fuel costs and reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll also enjoy quieter and smoother rides through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

From planning your route and packing essentials to maximizing your vehicle’s efficiency and connecting with the EV community, we’ve got you covered.

So, buckle up, charge your battery, and get ready to hit the road!

1. Plan your trip in advance

Plan your road trip around public charging points on the way to your destination. While EV charging takes a little longer than filling up with petrol, many charging stations are located next to facilities that allow you to grab a bite to eat, rest, recuperate, or explore the local shops and parks. Before taking your EV on a long-distance road trip or on new routes, plan ahead so that you know where the closest public charging points are and how much time you’ll need to wait while your vehicle charges. Helpful apps, such as the  Power Trip route planner  can predict your charging needs and schedule charging stops that optimize the amount of time you spend charging your EV while you’re travelling.

2. Shorter charging sessions are often better

Charging your electric vehicle for 15-20 minutes every two hours allows you to stretch your legs, take a bathroom break, stock up on your favourite snacks, and get back on the road faster than one longer charging break. When road tripping in an EV, you don’t really have to charge up to 100%, unless you need the range to get to your next destination. It’s worth remembering that shorter charging stops can result in a faster trip and less time spent charging overall. That’s because it often takes the same time to charge from 80% to 100% as it does to charge the battery from 0-80%. Most fast-charging stations will only let you fill up to 80% to ensure more electric vehicles can utilize the facilities.

3. Charge up where you’re staying

Level 2 chargers are becoming more popular in New Zealand as our EV fleet expands. Take advantage of overnight charging by booking accommodation with EV charging facilities, this way you can park the car when you’re done for the day and power it up overnight. New Zealand has more than  900 hotels  around the country with electric charging services. Many of these facilities are free for guests or charge a small parking fee. Camping grounds are also a great option for budget travellers, and there are now more than  54 holiday parks  around New Zealand offering EV charging. Charging your EV with your portable 3-pin cable can be a useful backup option. Just remember to ask your host first.

4. Download useful EV apps to plan your trip effectively

Apps can be helpful to ensure you don’t find yourself stranded somewhere without a charge. Good map and weather apps are also a must-have for your trip. With these apps, you can plan your route, check for detours, and see real-time traffic conditions.

Here are a couple of our favourite apps:

• After setting up an account on the ChargeNet app, you’ll have access to the network of over 280 charge points nationwide. With so many stations, it’s easy to plan your trip without making detours. Plus, when you’re on the road, you can see which chargers are currently in use.
• Plugshare is a great resource for viewing chargers open to the public. The app is community driven and shows all DC fast chargers as well as Type 2 AC charging available in New Zealand. It also allows you to filter your charging stops based on the activities you want to do on the charging stops. For example, do you want to take lunch as your charge?
• With Power Trip  you can find charging stations, plan your electric vehicle (EV) road trips and reduce your EV charging costs. The Power Trip route planner predicts your charging needs and schedules charging stops that optimize the amount of time you spend charging your EV while you’re travelling.

5. Check the ChargeNet app before you hit the road

The  ChargeNet app  is designed to make your charging experience seamless from start to finish, and if you’re not already using it regularly, now is a great time to incorporate it into your charging behaviour. After downloading the ChargeNet app, you can:

• Ensure your payment details are up to date on your ChargeNet account
• Check the network status of your chosen charger before you arrive.
• Monitor your charging progress via the app and move on quickly once your charging session has finished.

6. Remember EV Etiquette 

As New Zealand’s electric fleet grows, it’s important to remember the do’s and don’ts of EV charging. Early adopters of electric vehicles put together a set of charging etiquette that helps prevent bad behaviour. These came about gradually through trial, common sense, and majority support. ChargeNet helped develop and fully supports the official EV Charging Etiquette. We respectfully ask that you, our customers, do too. Here are a couple of general etiquette tips to get you started:

• All EVs have the right to use public charging stations. However, if you’re not actively charging, you should never park in an EV charging bay.
• Only unplug another vehicle if you’re certain it’s finished charging or have been given permission (for example, through the Plugshare app).
• If your vehicle is charging, ensure you are back before the charging period ends.
• Finally, look after the charger cables and stations and report any damage to the provider.

Master EV etiquette by checking out our article  here  for a full list of EV etiquette.

7. Have a plan B for where to charge

When you plan your trip, have a plan B for where to charge. Planning your trip around a few charging locations is a good idea and will ensure you can keep moving if your chosen charger is in use or out of order. New Zealand’s charging network is generally busier in some places over the summer, particularly in summer hot spots. Traditionally, the most active charging time across the ChargeNet network is between 12 pm – 5 pm during the holiday season. Charging outside these times or having a second charging location in mind can help minimise disruption to your charging schedule.

8. Pack your portable 3-pin cable and type 2 cable as back up

Most EVs come with a portable 3-pin cable that can be plugged into any standard wall socket. These “granny cables” can come in handy if you are faced with an unexpected or sudden change of plan. It’s also worth investing in a type 2 cable to make use of level 2 chargers. Learn more about which cables you should travel with  here .

9. Explore the whole range of available charging options

There are a number of different options when it comes to charging your EV. If you’re in a hurry, you can use a DC Fast charger, which is great when you need a quick top up, however, if you’re not in a hurry, charging at home or using a Level 2 charger, while these options will take far longer to charge than a fast charger, it can also save you in a pinch.

Different chargers work at different rates:

• Level 1 chargers (using a standard three-pin plug) are like your home electrical wiring and will take many hours (or days!) to give you a full charge.
• Level 2 chargers might work for you if you want to spend a few hours nearby checking out the sights. These are chargers are most commonly BYO cables. You’ll find Level 2 chargers at home or in a carpark where you can park for at least an hour. These stations are sometimes free to use for ChargeNet customers.
• Level 3 or DC Fast chargers (our specialty) offer the quickest charge, which can get you to an 80% charge in as little as an hour. These always have a cable attached, which you simply plug directly into your car.

10. Understand your EV

Before leaving on a road trip, it’s important to know your EV range and what charge rate it can handle. If you need to stop at a rapid charger, ensure you know your vehicle’s maximum charge rate. For example, if your EV’s maximum charge rate is 50kW, it will not be able to charge any faster than 50kW when using a 50kW charge point. If it’s your first road trip in an EV, it’s worth noting that your actual range can vary. Cold weather, using the air conditioner or heating, speeding, rapid acceleration or deceleration and driving uphill all decrease your mileage.

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10 EV charging tips for new drivers

• 14 December 2022

Top tips for your electric road trip

Keeping your charge up and your stress down when travelling New Zealand.

If you are an EV owner, you can feel good about the emissions and money you are saving as you cruise across the country this summer.

There have been over 17,500 new electric vehicles registered in New Zealand so far in 2022, and for many EV owners, this summer will mark their first major EV road trip. To help make your trip go as smoothly as possible, here are our top tips for travelling long distances in an EV.

Start by planning your journey before you set off. If you need to charge along the way, decide in advance where you want to stop, and consider having a couple of options up your sleeve to keep things flexible.

It can take around 30 minutes for a fast charge – plan your charging stops to coincide with lunch, coffee or toilet breaks, so you can make the most of this time.

Remember that you can use a trip planning app like Power Trip to help you plan where to stop, and how much you need to top up when you do.

Waka Kotahi NZTA also manages an interactive map of EV chargers around the country to help with journey planning.

• Go to EV charger map

What it costs to power your car for 100km

• $5 EV charged at home
• $15 EV charged by a public fast charger
• $18 Petrol car

The costs above are based on current rates as at 5 December 2022: standard home electricity rate of 29c/kWh; ChargeNet fast charger rate of 80c/kWh; average petrol premium unleaded 95 cost at $2.63/L used at a fuel efficiency of 6.9L/100km. If you are on a variable electricity plan with cheaper off-peak rates, the cost to charge your car at home overnight can be much cheaper.

Start with 100% charge, then top up to 80% max

We suggest starting your road trip with 100% charge. It’s the cheapest and most convenient to charge at home, so this will get you the best bang for your buck.

If you have to top up on your journey it’s completely fine to add only as much as you need to get to your next charging destination, to minimise the amount of time you need to stop to charge along the way. This kind of ‘snack charging’ won’t impact your battery health.

As a general rule, the most you should top up to on a public fast charger is 80%. This is because the last 20% of the battery takes much longer to charge. In fact, the last 20% can take as long to charge as the previous 70% – this slowdown is due to the battery’s thermal management system kicking in to counteract the heat created by fast charging.

Avoid peak holiday traffic times

No one likes being stuck in traffic, but if you do find yourself in a holiday traffic jam, the good news is that your EV at least will not have a problem with it. EVs use very little power when not moving or moving slowly, so sitting in traffic won’t drain your battery. Your aircon and stereo will slowly use power, so if you find yourself stuck in traffic and concerned about your range it may pay to turn off the aircon and open your windows instead.

Some people also report that they’re less prone to carsickness in an EV – likely due to the reduced vibrations and noise. A recent UK study determined that this is at least the case for dogs.

Why dogs prefer travelling in electric cars (external link)

We’d still advise avoiding traffic if you can – as you can expect public chargers to be busier if there are more cars than usual out on the roads.

Use an app like Plug Share (external link) to see in advance what chargers are in use, so you can divert to one that isn’t. And Waka Kotahi’s charger map (external link) tracks whether a charger is out of action due to faults or required servicing.

Also, check out our general EV public charging etiquette advice.

Mind your EV Ps and Qs

EV roadie plan: Auckland to Taupō

We used the Power Trip app to plan a trip from Auckland to Taupō in a Tesla Model Y – the top selling new EV in New Zealand in 2022.

The Tesla Model Y has a specified range of 455km, which in real world open-road travel is likely to be more like 350-400km (actual range can vary a lot depending on speed, elevation, strong headwinds etc). The distance between Auckland and Taupō is 275km. We want to reach Taupō with at least 20% battery remaining.

On this trip we have scheduled a quick top up, but if you’re comfortable arriving in Taupō with 10% battery, you can confidently drive straight through without stopping.

Here's the plan

Start the trip with a full charge.

Cost to fill at home = $12-$18

You can add around 80km of range in 8hrs overnight on a standard 3-pin socket, so plan to keep your charge topped in the week leading up to your departure.

Stop for a quick top up

11 min stop; Cost to top up = $5.50

Stop at New World Tokoroa with 33% battery range left. Top up to 41%.

Arrive in Taupō with 20% battery

In a Tesla Y, 20% battery is around 90km.

If you are comfortable to arrive with around 45km range remaining, you wouldn't need to stop for the top up.

Auckland to Taupō

EV vs petrol car

Based on a Tesla Y - 100% home charge + 8% fast charger top up. Arrive with 20% remaining.

Based on a Mazda CX-5 with a fuel economy of 6.9L/100km, at a petrol price of $2.63/L.

Charge overnight where possible

Whether you’re at home or on holiday, charging overnight is the cheapest and (usually) most convenient option. If you’re staying at a hotel, motel, AirBnB, powered camp site or with family, you may be able to plug in at your accommodation. To charge overnight for 8hrs on a standard 3-pin socket will add about 80km to your range, and cost the bill payer about $4. We suggest you be a good EV ambassador and offer to cover this cost. Just don’t forget to bring your charging cable with you and make sure you plug in safely!

Safely charging your electric vehicle at home | Worksafe (external link)

If overnight charging isn’t an option, then look for opportunities to top up on public chargers while out and about at cafes, malls, supermarkets etc. Note that there are various types of public chargers around – DC chargers are faster and cables are provided; and AC chargers are slower and cheaper (sometimes free) but you need to provide your own cable – and this cable may differ to the one you’d use to charge at home.

EV charging choices

Charging at home or at private accommodation is the cheapest and usually most convenient option. You can plug your EV into a standard 3-pin socket and charge overnight. The speed of charge is limited by the power that comes from New Zealand’s standard 1.9kW AC energy supply. A home smart charger can speed things up. When travelling, take your cable with you. Before setting off on a long drive, top up to 100% to save time on the road.

Charging time for 100km: 10hrs Cost for 100km: up to $5*

*Based on a standard home electricity rate of 29c/kWh.

Learn more about home EV charging

If you’re going to be parked up somewhere like a supermarket, library, gym or shopping mall for 30mins-2hrs, you can use it as an opportunity to top up your EV charge. There are different kinds of public chargers around providing different speeds of charge. As a rough guide, 25kW DC charger will add 50km range in under 30mins, and a 50kW DC charger will add 50km in under 15mins. Public DC chargers have two cable options provided, to fit every kind of EV. There are also public AC chargers around that offer a slower, cheaper charge (sometimes for free) – for these you may need to supply your own cable.

Charging time for 100km: 30mins+ Cost for 100km: up to $15*

*Based on current ChargeNet tariffs as at 5 December 2022: AC charger = 40c/kWh, DC charger 25kW-75kW = 80c/kWh, 75kW+ = 85c/kWh.

Learn more about public charging

When you’re going for a long drive beyond your EV’s range, look for public DC chargers with a rating of 50kW+ to get the fastest charge. There are chargers at least every 75km along the state highway network and the network is expanding rapidly. Chargers are typically located by public facilities making it convenient to charge while also having a toilet/coffee/lunch break. Depending on your vehicle, a 150kW charger can add 100km to your range in as little as 13-16 minutes. Noting that if you have an older or lower-range EV, your charging speed will be limited by your vehicle’s internal charging capacity, so using a high-powered 50kW+ charger won’t necessarily give you a faster charge.

Charging time for 100km: 15mins+ Cost for 100km: up to $17*

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Wellington to Bluff: no petrol required

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Zero-carbon cars for rent

Global research indicates round-trip car share cars can replace up to 15 privately owned vehicles. We talk to Zilch, New Zealand’s only 100% electric vehicle sharing provider.

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1 September 2021

Electric Vehicle Information Centre

Got an electric car or thinking about buying one here’s some information and tips to help you, plugging in.

Charging an electric vehicle is easy and convenient. Nearly all of an EV owner’s charging will be done at home on a standard 3 pin socket. They are everywhere! Plus, this is the most cost-effective way to fill up. Most electric vehicles can be charged from 0% to 100% overnight by a 10A plug, just plug the car in when you get home and wake up to a full battery every morning.

The LEAF and many other EVs have charge timers, giving you the ability to control when the charge starts and finishes. This offers drivers the benefit of low-cost off-peak electricity and reduces the grid load to give you an even higher percentage of renewable green energy.

Level 2 charging is faster than plugging into a standard wall socket as you are not limited to the 10Amps an NZ plug is rated for. Units like the "Rolec Wallpod" displayed can be installed inside or outside and be purchased through our EV Parts & Accessories .

These units are available for Both single and 3 Phase supply.

D/C fast charging or rapid charging is available on the go at public charging stations. These stations enable electric vehicle owners to travel virtually anywhere in New Zealand. Information on where these charging stations are and will soon be is available on the ChargeNet.nz website.

How do I pay for public charging?

First thing to do is set up an account on the ChargeNet website. Once registered you are ready to charge! There are 3 ways to activate public fast chargers, the most common is by using the RFID chip that Drive EV has provided you with, downloading the ChargeNet app is another great way to activate a charge, you can also use the ChargeNet.nz websites "Start Charge" feature to turn chargers on anywhere in NZ. The units in New Zealand that require payment all accept the ChargeNet.nz RFID chip that is paid on an easy monthly account.

How long does it take?

Charging speeds vary depending on temperature, State of Charge (SoC) and what model of Electric Vehicle is plugged in. A general rule of thumb is if you plug in with 10% it will take around 20 minutes to get back up to 80%. We have tested most EVs and can advise you how models differ.

Driving distance

The range on an Electric Vehicle can vary widely based on many factors, some of the main reasons are travelling speeds, ambient temperatures, topography, vehicle load and usable battery capacities. An electric car’s range is very easy to monitor along the way and is also very predictable with a few simple tips and tricks that Drive EV can show you. With the correct information, trip planning will be a breeze.

The team at Drive EV have driven electric vehicles as far north as Cape Reinga and as far South as Christchurch, with tens of thousands of EV kilometres around NZ we can offer accurate advice from real world experiences.

On our advertised vehicles you will see we quote both "Around town" and "Open road" range figures, the reason for this is an EV will go much further around town as consumption is greatly affected by speed. The faster you go the shorter the range.

Another factor to an EV’s range is the use of auxiliaries like the heater and air conditioning. An electric vehicle’s heater runs directly off the high voltage battery and different models have different efficiencies, we can advise you the pros and cons of each model.

What about the batteries?

The batteries in an Electric Vehicle like the LEAF are made up of modules, modules contain cells and the cells contain the Lithium ION chemistry that stores the electricity. Battery replacement is very uncommon on modern electric vehicles and it is almost unheard of to have a problem with an entire pack. In the unlikely event that an EV experiences battery problems, individual modules can be replaced. Replacing batteries in electric vehicles will come but we expect it will be more around extending the range than fixing a problem.

There are now battery and EV specialists like EVs Enhanced who are committed to offering future battery and computer upgraded to ageing EVs making them better, faster and with longer-range than when they were sold new.

What EV is right for me?

This is where we come in! At Drive EV it is our mission to create positive EV experiences, we listen to our customer’s needs, work through their daily commutes, places they want to visit and advise what vehicles are most suited to their needs.

We are happy to offer free advice anytime, whether you are in the market to buy, already own an EV or are just generally curious about electric vehicles. Get in touch, we are always keen to talk about EVs!

Please select a search type

Select traditional parameters like make, model, year and engine size.

Affordability

Looking for finance and unsure what you can afford? Start your search here.

Standard Search

Affordability search.

Looking to finance your next vehicle? Use our friendly Affordability Search to help find vehicles that best match your current financial situation, budget and lifestyle.

PlugN Drive NZ

Tesla EV Rentals 

Tesla Hire  

Welcome to PlugN Drive NZ, the premier electric car rental company. Experience a truly carbon neutral road trip with a Tesla rental, and explore the beautiful scenery of New Zealand while reducing your carbon footprint.

Why book with us.

Roadside Assistance

Tesla provide roadside assistance and most of the time they can sort things out remotely. If you have a flat tyre they can sort that too and your excess reduction insurance will cover any costs. 

Trip Advice

No Booking Fees

Book Your Trip in 3 Easy Steps

Reserve your ride.

PlugN Drive NZ is the ultimate one-stop-shop for electric car rentals.  Our mission is to provide our customers with a convenient and hassle-free rental experience. 

We believe in providing our customers with the best service possible and our team is dedicated to ensuring that you’re able to enjoy your electric car rental experience. If you’re looking for a reliable, eco-friendly EV car rental, look no further. PlugN Drive NZ is the perfect solution for you

Plan Your Trip

Planning a trip with an electric car rental is easy with the right tools. Take advantage of New Zealand's EV route planners to plan your route and ensure that you have the necessary charging stops along the way. With destination charging, you can access overnight charging at hotels, motels, and other locations, or you can use the mobile charging cord to power up your car rental at your accomodation. If you're on the go, there are also plenty of public fast charging stations available from Tesla, ChargeNet, BP, Z and many other providers. With proper planning, your road trip is sure to be a success

Hit the Road

Renting a Tesla from us is the perfect way to explore New Zealand. With our cars having enough range for 2-3 hours driving at a time, you have the freedom to explore the amazing places this country has to offer. The frunk is the perfect place to store your picnic box, so you can relax and enjoy the view. If you would like to enjoy the use of our picnic equipment let us know at the time of your booking and we will provide you a chilly bin (cooler) picnic plates / cups/ glasses and cutlery. Charging takes about 40 minutes on a fast charger, so you can use that time to have a bite to eat, sightsee, or even watch a Netflix movie. With our cars, the possibilities are endless.

The Tesla is the ultimate driving experience! With its remote access via the Tesla App, satellite internet access, Netflix, YouTube, and Zoom capability, you’ll never feel bored on the road. It also comes with maps, Spotify, Apple Music, and personalised settings such as seat settings, streaming provider, and ride comfort settings. All of this can be accessed through the large touchscreen. Make your journey more enjoyable with a Tesla. 

Tesla Hire Relocation offers

Want to save on your hire and are flexible on dates ?  Check out our relocation offers to see if any suit your plans 

Find Your Next Road Trip

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We care about how what we do impacts on others. 

We are 100% committed to our relationships with our customers now and into the future

Committed ​

We are out of the box thinkers and are focussed on finding the right solutions for your needs.

Sharing knowledge

We are all about improving uptake so  share what we know to support others to feel confident to make the move.

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Planning Your Trip

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On the Road

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Great Kiwi Roadtrips

Landmarks Along the Way

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Driving in new zealand/aotearoa.

with an Electric Vehicle

Driving in New Zealand/Aotearoa with an Electric Vehicle.

New Zealand/Aotearoa has been rapidly transitioning to a zero-emissions transport network over the last five years.   

For overseas tourists wanting to experience New Zealand/Aotearoa at the wheel of a battery electric vehicle, (EV) a number of options are available from rental operators.   

New Zealand has an EV charging network spanning most main New Zealand tourist routes, and at key tourist destinations. As with any road trip, journey planning is important. With EV’s however, its even more so.  

It is recommended that drivers plan their journey carefully according to the charging infrastructure available, both fast (e.g. en-route) and slow charging (e.g. overnight). There are apps available that show both the charging stations around New Zealand/Aotearoa and the status of the chargers available. Demand may be high in some areas so you will need to plan for that.  

Finally, consider safety and security when planning your journey. Particularly in remote areas. Stay up to date with weather and road conditions during your trip. Things can change quickly!  

Here are seven tips for a great EV driving experience in New Zealand:  

For more top tips on your electric road trip visit the Genless website.

© 2024 Drive Safe Owned by Tourism Industry Aotearoa

EV Encyclopedia

We are grateful to The Power Trip app for allowing us to reprint the following information. 

Introduction and Contents

This guide is intended as a starting point to help you answer questions you might have about electric vehicles in New Zealand.

We have collected, categorised and summarised the information shown in this guide from a variety of sources and received feedback from experts in the EV industry.

We have used many different sources of information to make this guide, We can't be responsible for inaccuracies that may result from using this information. If you find any inaccuracies or inconsistencies, please let us know via the feedback option in the Power Trip app, or through our website :

thepowertrip.co.nz/contact

• The Power Trip App
• Introduction to Electric Vehicles (EVs) 2.1 Acronyms, definitions and gobbledigook
• Reasons for Choosing an EV
• Buying an EV
• EV Test Drive and Rental Options
• Comparing Electric Vehicles
• Ownership Costs
• EV Batteries
• EV Safety and Upgrades
• Home (Trickle) Charging (mode 1 & 2)
• Dedicated Home EV Charging (mode 3)
• Public Charging (mode 3 & 4)
• Charging Etiquette
• How Far Can You Drive

Emergencies

• Electricity Plans
• Policies and Support
• EVs, The Environment & Climate Change
• News, Media & Social Media
• Useful Links
• Dedicated EV-only Dealers

1. Power Trip

What power trip does.

The Power Trip app helps you plan your EV road trips.

The map shows you where the nearest charging stations are, and the routing feature will tell you which stations to visit in order to get to where you need to go.

When planning a trip, Power Trip looks at the:

• Type of EV you are driving
• Intersections and
• Speed limits of the roads between charging stations.

Power Trip then tries to find the fastest way for you to get to your destination, including driving time and charging time.

Because Power Trip tries to find the fastest way, it will tell you the minimum amount of charge you need at each charging station in order to arrive at the next destination (e.g. 42% instead of the maximum of 95% or 100%).

Power Trip is a mathematical model of the real-world terrain, it is not perfect so always use precaution and good sense when charging up for the next leg of your trip.

Things like headwinds, gravel roads, low tyre pressure, your own driving style, detours and power outages can all impact on your EV journey as well. 

Driver Profile

The driver profile is where you tell Power Trip about your car, and how you like to drive. The only settings you need to worry about are the "Basic Options" settings. Everything else is set automatically.

  Basic Options  are where you tell us what kind of car you have and how fast you like to drive it.

You can also choose which charging stations appear on the map and switch the   Range Bubble  on or off.

The Range Bubble is a very basic estimate of your driving range in a circle from your current location. It will give you a rough idea of how far you can drive, in a straight line, from your current location.

Advanced Options  are where you can tell us a little bit more about your situation, like how much capacity you have left in your battery, how much you like to charge up to at each charging stop and how much luggage you are carrying.

Technical Options  are settings for engineers, with these settings you can adjust different aspects of the car (drag, road resistance, engine efficiency etc.) to get different results from the app route planner.

I don’t own an EV.

If you are looking at buying an EV, you can use Power Trip to plan a trip, and then see how you could complete that trip with different types of EVs.

After planning a trip, tap "More Options" then "Recalculate" to select a different EV and re-plan the route and show you any charging stops you might need to make on your journey.

The ideal EV will complete your daily needs with over 20% energy to spare. Play with the app settings to find the EVs that fit your driving habits and needs before visiting your local EV dealer to work out the rest!

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2. Introduction to Electric Vehicles (EVs)

What is an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicles are cars that move by using electricity to power an electric motor.

 The three key benefits driving EV provides are :

• Cheaper running costs.
• Independence from fuel companies and petrol prices.
• A lower environmental impact.

In New Zealand, an EV is defined as

A vehicle that must plug-in to an external source of electricity .

This is explained in further detail by the NZTA and EECA in the point below.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/planning/transport-planning/planning-for-electric-vehicles ECCA’s definition: "PEVs are vehicles that use an on-board battery to store energy supplied from an external source”

Technically, this means that an EV can also sometimes use petrol.

Depending on how politically correct or EV-enthusiastic the person you are talking to is, "Electric Vehicle" can mean either a car that uses only electricity, or a car that uses both electricity and petrol, but must be able to plug-in.

When we talk about EVs in this guide,   we exclusively mean 100% electric cars, no petrol or diesel .  Unless stated otherwise.

2.1 Acronyms, definitions and gobbledigook

AC is short for Alternating Current, this is the type of electricity you get in your home. DC is short for direct current, this is used by batteries and high-power devices.

MITs explanation of AC and DC electricity

Most electric vehicles accept both DC and AC.

In general, a DC Fast charger will charge your battery at a greater speed than an AC charging station.

Charge.net.nz FAQ - the difference between AC and DC

AER (All Electric Range) 

The all electric range is the distance an EV is able to travel using only electricity, from 100% to 0% without recharging.

  Wikipedia – All Electric Range

Ah (Amp hour)

This is another way of measuring battery size, in a similar way to the kilowatt hour (kWh), but it is more useful to people with technical backgrounds.

Driving Electric – what are kWh and Ah

BMS (Battery Management System)

Software that manages the flow of electricity into / out of the battery, protecting it, controlling it, monitoring it and ensuring it operates within safe parameters.

Wikipedia – Battery Management System

CHAdeMO, CCS-2, Type 1, Type 2, Blue Commando

These are all different types of charging plugs and sockets that your car may be compatible with.

You can set your Driver Profile in Power Trip to show only the charging stations that your EV is able to connect to.

NZTA’s guide to EV plugs and sockets

Dollars or cents per kWh

Similar to how petrol is $ per litre, The cost of electricity is measured in $ per kWh.

Your power bill will tell you what you currently pay for electricity at home, in cents per kWh.

EV, BEV, PEV, HEV, PHEV, ICE

EV  = Electric Vehicle , which includes any of the below

BEV  = ( Battery EV ) All battery, no petrol, just a plug that can be connected to an external source.

PEV  = ( Plug-in EV ) Any vehicle with a plug that uses a battery to store energy supplied from an external source

PHEV  = ( Plug-in Hybrid EV ) A vehicle with a plug that uses a battery to store energy from an external source, but is also supported by a petrol engine.

HEV  = ( Hybrid EV ) A petrol car supported by a small battery that can’t be plugged in to an external source. Also sometimes refers to Heavy Electric Vehicle

EECA’s guide - which EV is for me

ICE  = (Internal Combustion Engine) A petrol, diesel or other fossil fuel powered vehicle with no battery or electric motor.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/EV-comparisons.png

EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (or EVSE) is a catch-all term used to describe the charging station, cables and associated equipment.

Most commonly the term is used for specialised AC power supply cables, or dedicated AC home wall charging units.

Mr electric – what is EVSE

FliptheFleet

Flip the Fleet are a NZ based organization who collect data from EV owners and use it to study EV adoption, use and lifecycle.

Their website provides research and a unique knowledge base for understanding EVs:

www.flipthefleet.org

FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)

An EV that uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity and power its electric motor. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to create electricity.

Wikipedia – Fuel Cell Vehicle

GoM (Guess-O-Meter)

The dashboard of an EV tries to estimate how much range you have left before you run out of energy in your battery. This reading is called often referred to as the Guess-O-Meter.

The GoM usually tells you "At your current pace, you will have this many kilometres left".

It uses the driving you have just done to predict the driving that you will soon do. This is why it will decrease quickly when you start driving quickly, or start climbing up a large hill, or if you turn the heater or air conditioning on.

Don’t be alarmed by a rapidly changing GoM, you can use Power Trip to figure out how much energy you need to get from where you are to where you’re going, and find the charging stops along the way .

Cleantechnica - Understanding The Guess-O-Meter

ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)

A car which uses an internal combustion engine to convert fossil fuel (usually petrol or diesel) energy into momentum.

Being "ICEd" is when the carpark at a charging station is occupied by a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE).

Leaving a polite note on their windscreen is generally the best response.

Induction Motor

A type of motor used in many electric vehicles. An induction motor uses wound up copper coils that create motion when electricity runs through them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor

kW (Kilowatt)

This measures Power. Think of it like a measure of how fast you can fill up your battery. 1 kW adds 1kWh in 1 hour.

For example,

In a perfect world, a 50 kW charging station will fill up a 50 kWh battery in 1 hour and a 25 kW charging station will fill up a 50kWh battery in 2 hours.

In reality, technology is not perfect and charging times will be slower than this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WattKilowatt

When we are discussing charger speed we use kW as the unit of measurement.

kWh (Kilowatt hour)

This is the amount of energy a battery can hold. It is basically the EV equivalent of a litre of petrol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilowatt_hour

When we are discussing battery size we use kWh as the unit of measurement.

Leafspy is a popular app that can access information about the battery for the Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 vehicles.

It does this by connecting to a compatible OBD device

Not all OBD devices are compatible with EVs, OBD devices marked as v2.1 will not work with Leafspy. Devices marked as v1.5 should be compatible, but some v1.5 devices sold overseas have been mislabelled. Ask a NZ based EV dealer, or NZ based OBD specialist which devices are compatible with your EV.  

https://flipthefleet.org/resources/nissan-owners-how-to-scan-your-battery

Level 1, 2, and 3

Levels describe the rate of power that you can charge your car with. Often AC charging stations are mislabelled as chargers, but in fact the charger for all AC charging is inside your car. DC charging bypasses the car's charger and charges the battery directly. For more information, see the section on Charging .

Level 1  - level 1 charging is when you use a 120V wall socket. This very slow level of charging is not available in NZ.

Level 2 – slow charging using specialised EVSE to charge on an ordinary 10A or 15A, 230V wall socket, or fast charging on anything up to 40A with an AC wall/post charger using 230V single or triple phase.

Level 3 - fast or rapid charging using an external DC charger. These are public stations with a high voltage, typically delivering 25 – 150 kW.

Mode 1, 2, 3 and 4

These are the different types of equipment you can use to charge your EV.

   Mode 1  - Slow charging with an ordinary unprotected (live) cable into a standard wall socket

   Mode 2  - Slow charging from a regular 10 or 15 amp electrical socket with a specialised EVSE/protected cable

   Mode 3  - Slow or fast AC charging using a specific EV charging station or wall box

   Mode 4  - Fast or Rapid DC charging using an external charger.

See this guide’s section on charging for more information about each one.

For more information see The Driven - EV charging speeds explained

OBD (On-board Diagnostics)

There is a computer in your car, and it can be accessed via the On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port (kind of like a USB).

OBD ports allow modern vehicles to report information via a compatible device.

Wikipedia – Onboard Diagnostics

Regen (Regenerative Braking)

A method of breaking used by vehicles with on-board batteries, where energy from the braking of the vehicle is recovered and used to recharge the battery.

Wikipedia – Regenerative Brake

PMSM (Permanent magnet synchronous electric motors)

A type of electric motor used in some EVs (like the Tesla Model 3, long-range). These motors contain a strong magnet instead of wound-up copper coils.

Wikipedia – Permanent_magnet_motor  

REX or EREV

REX  = Range Extended and   EREV  = Extended Range EV.

These are vehicles that have a small petrol or diesel engine or generator that can recharge the main vehicle battery while still driving in fully electric mode. As such they are not zero emission.

Wikipedia – Range Extender (Vehicle)

RCD (Residual Current Device)

Also known as a Charge Circuit Interrupting Device (CCID) or circuit breaker.

 A safety precaution installed in EV charging equipment that prevents electric shocks by interrupting the charging process.

Worksafe.govt.nz – What is an RCD

Smart Charging Station (or ‘Smart Charger’)

A smart charging station will communicate with your car to deliver the correct amount of power at the right time. It also detects problems like faults, short circuits and fire and can stop charging if needed.

EV Box – how does smart charging work

SoC (State of Charge)

This is the usual 0% to 100% measure of how full your battery is. Instead of saying "my battery is at 50%" you could say "my state of charge is 50%".

Wikipedia – State of Charge

SoH (State of Health)

This is the remaining capacity on an older battery. 

 See the diagram below for a comparison between State of Health vs State of Charge

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/SoCvsSoH.png

Wikipedia – State of Health

V2G (Vehicle to Grid)

A charging station setup that allows Electric Vehicles to send energy into the power grid as well as recharge their battery from it. The V2G system communicates with the power grid to manage the flow of electricity in either direction.

  Wikipedia – Vehicle to Grid

There are 1000 Watts in 1 kilo Watt (kW). They are used to talk about smaller batteries and energy needs, kind of like how cake recipes use cups of milk instead of litres or buckets!

Well-to-Wheels

A comparison between traditional gasoline-powered vehicles and EVs that looks only at the effects of producing the vehicle and of producing the fuel for the vehicle, including extracting materials, processing and transporting them and storing them.

 Wikipedia – Well to wheel

 The Better NZ Trust has published a well-to-wheels comparison of energy losses between electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles.

Hydrogen vs Battery   and What about Hydrogen  

3. Reasons for choosing an EV

Government figures.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s figures on the average savings can be found at:

Why Buy An EV

Everyone has their favourite YouTube video for explaining EVs.

This one provides a good, balanced point of view :

Youtube – Engineering Explained

EVs are cheap to run*

 The fuel costs of an EV are far cheaper than petrol and maintenance costs are also lower.

  https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Cost-of-EVs.png

*EECA – why buy an EV

Carboncounter.com provides an interactive chart that shows the average running costs of different types of vehicles against their lifetime greenhouse gas emissions. EVs are consistently among the cheapest vehicles to run.

EVs are environmentally friendly

Over 30% of our national greenhouse gas emissions come from the ‘light passenger and commercial vehicle fleet’ - i.e. cars.

EVs don’t need petrol. Any CO2 they emit while being driven comes from generating the electricity to power them.

In New Zealand, our electricity is usually around 80% renewable (hydro, geothermal, solar and wind), this means driving an EV emits 85% less greenhouse gas than an equivalent petrol vehicle.

Transport currently accounts for almost 39% of NZ’s carbon emissions.

Of this amount, 89% is from road transport, with the majority (81%) from the light passenger and commercial vehicle fleet.

For more information on emissions in NZ, try the NZ statistics website:

NZ Statistics – NZ’s greenhouse gas emissions

Over their whole life, EVs emit 60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petrol vehicles, even when you take into account mining, manufacturing and shipping.

 For more information on why EVs are good for New Zealand, have a look at the Ministry of Transport fact sheet :

MoT NZ electric vehicles fact sheet

 Carboncounter.com was developed by MIT.

It provides an interactive chart showing the lifetime cost of running different vehicles against their carbon emissions and the world’s 2030 emission targets.

EVs are the lowest-emitting vehicles on the chart, well within the 2030 average emissions target.

http://carboncounter.com/

They have decent range

While early EVs had a range of between 80 and 130km, Most EVs now have a range of between 150 and 250km. The next generation of EVs will have even more.

95% of most daily travel demand in New Zealand is for distances less than 120km and the average driver only travels about 28 km/day (different sources may also say the average is between 32 and 45km on weekdays), which is within range of even the least expensive EV.

Ministry of Transport – NZ solo driving

Ministry of Transport - EV factsheet

No more petrol stations

Every house with an electrical outlet socket is a potential EV charging station.

You can charge your vehicle overnight using the same 230v electrical socket that your phone’s charger plugs in to.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Socket-NZ.png

You can wake to a ‘full tank’ every morning, saving you money and time.

If you have high travel demands or an EV with a big battery, you can also install a faster charging station in your garage.

Instant torque

EVs can accelerate quickly and smoothly from a standing start.

They have no gears to shift through and can apply full power as soon as you touch the accelerator.

EV’s climb hills more easily, smoothly and quietly than a combustion engine.

Regenerative braking also means they can regain energy while reducing wear and tear on the braking system while slowing or travelling downhill.

Why Buy An EV  

They can tow

Not many EVs come with a tow hitch, but most can be fitted with one.

The Tesla Model X, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Kia e-Niro can come with Tow hitches fitted.

Electric vehicles are well suited to towing due to their stability with most of their weight low to the ground and instant torque.

The Nissan Leaf can be fitted with an aftermarket towbar. For other vehicles, ask any towbar specialist if your EV can be fitted with a tow bar.

Towright - Nissan Leaf towbar

Fuel Consumption compared to an ICE vehicle - Check out this video

They handle well

The weight of the battery pack gives EVs a lower centre of gravity.

A lower centre of gravity, instant torque and modern car systems means EVs generally provide superior handling and are less likely to roll.

They are safer in accidents

EVs and hybrids generally have higher safety ratings than other vehicles, and you can check the specific, european NCAP ratings of each vehicle in the website below:

Euro NCAP ratings

Per km driven, EVs are less likely to catch fire in a crash than petrol or diesel vehicles.

Inside EVs - are EVs more or less likely to catch fire then combustion engine cars

Reduced Offshore Energy Dependence

EVs fuel up using renewable energy that is generated locally in New Zealand, instead of fossil fuels, that are imported from overseas.

Currently New Zealand spends $9 billion annually on imported oil. By driving EVs we can use that money to pay for power infrastructure and projects that create new jobs and strengthening our economy.

Better Air Quality

Particulate emissions from the exhaust of petrol and diesel cars are harmful to human health and degrade air quality.

The Guardian - Everything you should know about air pollution

Air pollution from roads causes at least €70bn ($122bn NZD) in health damage every year in the European Union.

The Guardian – Health effects of diesel cost Europe billions

The New Zealand 2012 Health and Air Pollution report found that harmful emissions from vehicles cost New Zealanders $496 million annually in health impacts and contribute to the premature death of 256 people each year. EVs don’t use petrol or diesel.

NZ Health and Air Pollution Study

Environmental Heath in New Zealand – Deaths due to hazardous substances

Total Cost of Vehicle Ownership tool – EECA

Comparing the purchase cost, fossil fuel savings, reduced maintenance costs, future resale value and the cost of charging can be difficult.

EECA has published a tool to help owners estimate the cost of owning an electric vehicle over time and compare that to cost of owning other vehicles.

The tool lets you compare the overall cost of owning different vehicles over different time periods.

EECA - Total cost of vehicle ownership

NZ Electric Vehicle Guide - (Sigurd’s Guide)

Wellington EV Champion, Sigurd, has published the most complete EV ownership guide to-date. He updates the guide regularly and you can download the latest 12-page version at:

NZ Electric Car Guide

Insights from Flip the Fleet

Citizen scientists from Flip the Fleet have been collecting data from New Zealands’ first EV owners. They have created a great repository of knowledge on their website:

  https://flipthefleet.org

4. Buying an EV

Guides on buying an ev.

EECA provide a general guide to buying electric vehicles, you can find it on their website:

EECA - EV buyers guide

Green electricity retailer, Ecotricity, has also published a helpful summary of each EV on the market, you can find them on the Ecotricity website:

Ecotricity – Buyers Guide

There is also a list of EV dealers selling new and used vehicles at EV Talk.

EV Talk – EV Dealers

If you are specifically considering buying a Nissan Leaf, there is an extensive NZ based guide for 2011 to 2016 models at :

Sam Holford’s Nissan Leaf Guide

Questions to ask your dealer

If you are trying to find an EV with the best driving range at the best price, the most important information you need to share with your dealer is what kind of driving you typically do.

An expensive 500km range EV might be cool, but you could save a lot of money by going for a cheaper, lower range EV if you only do 40 to 100km of driving each day.

 A few things you could do to help inform yourself of your options are:

• Try making a list of the common trips you do and ask your dealer about EVs that would comfortably achieve those trips with about 20% to spare.
• Track or calculate your petrol expenditure per week. This will help you to estimate your driving needs and it will help you compare your potential weekly fuel savings to repayments on any finance that you are offered.
• Try planning one of your common trips using Power Trip, then tap "More Options" and "Recalculate" to select a new EV and re-do the trip using the new settings. This will let you virtually test different EVs and find public charging options nearby.

If you are concerned about battery degradation, a battery capacity estimate can be done on some vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf, Nissan e-NV200 and Mitsubishi Outlander, using apps like Leafspy or EVBATMON.

While this information is not perfect, you could ask your dealer if this information is available.

Talk to your dealer about your home, public and at-work charging arrangements. If you can’t charge up at home, what other options do you have and which car would be best suited to those options?

For more information, you could read EECA’s EV buyers guide :

Ecotricity also provides a simple tool that could help you find the right type of EV for you :

If you want to explore more technical information, you can try using the EECA Business cost of ownership tool.

This tool will let you compare estimates of the total lifetime costs of owning different cars.

EECA – Total cost of ownership Tool

Buying New EVs

There are a range of retailers in NZ selling new electric and hybrid vehicles. These sellers include (but are not limited to!) Tesla, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, VW, Nissan, Renault

Buying a brand new, made for New Zealand, EV usually means that you also get manufacturer support, a warranty for the vehicle and possibly a warranty for the battery.

All charging cables or charging stations sold or provided must be ‘NZ Compliant’. Compliance is declared by the supplier through the SDoC form.

Worksafe ­– Supplier Declaration of Conformity

EVs are new technology an emerging market and not all dealership staff may be aware of all of the essential EV information yet.

If you don’t have much experience with EVs, or are looking to buy your first EV, try discussing your needs with several experienced EV dealers to ensure you are buying the right car for you.

Imported Vehicles from a registered dealership or importer

Sometimes called ‘grey-imports’, these are often cheaper to buy than brand new EVs.

Most EVs on New Zealand’s roads are second-hand vehicles, these are mainly imported from Japan, and occasionally the UK, by registered importers.

Some EVs are not yet available as new cars in New Zealand. So buying a second hand import will give you more EV options to choose from.

Manufacturers are not obliged to offer support or services for vehicles imported second-hand from their overseas branches/franchises.

There is a rapidly growing community of EV specialists in New Zealand that can offer support for EVs, and many dedicated EV dealers will offer after-sale support for their customers.

If you don’t have much experience with EVs, or are looking to buy your first EV, talking to several experienced EV dealers is a good place to start.

You can also find EVs for sale on trademe.co.nz and on websites like evsales.nz

All imported EVs should come with a NZ compliant charging cable, vehicle history, battery information and after sales support.  

Imported vehicles usually have no warranty or battery warranty from the manufacturer but sellers are still bound by the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act.

Consumer.org.nz – Car buyers rights

Consumer Protection has some great resources on this topic :

Consumer Protection – buying a car from a dealer

 EECA has published a guide for helping dealers find the right car for their customers, if you have concerns about what you have been told, this might be a good resource to check.

EECA - Dealers guide to electric vehicles

Private Sellers

As with any car, you can also buy directly from a private seller.

Private sales are usually made on an "as is, where is" basis. Which means the buyer takes all responsibility for any problems after purchase.

Buying privately may result in cheaper prices, but the seller is under no obligation to offer after-sales support and you will have little legal protection after the sale.

In some cases, after-sales support and advice for using, maintaining and operating an EV can make a lot of difference for inexperienced EV owners.

Consumer Protection provides resources on this topic:

Consumer protection - buying a car privately

Battery size

Battery size is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The more kWh a battery is rated for, the more energy it can store and the further the EV can drive on a single charge.

At the moment, the battery is the most expensive part of making an EV, which means EVs with larger batteries tend to be more expensive.

The Driven - EV price tipping point

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Bloomberg-data.png

Lower priced electric cars tend to utilise smaller batteries (around 24 to 30 kWh for example) while  higher-end cars have larger batteries (64 to 100 kWh for example).

When buying an electric vehicle, you could also take note of any degradation or loss of battery capacity, as this will reduce the amount of energy the battery can hold and the range it can drive on one charge.

 n Nissan Leafs this is referred to as the State of Health (SoH), in other cars it may be referred to as ‘Actual Capacity’ or ‘Available Capacity’.

The "right-size" battery for you

Finding the car that suits you is important.

Needing to charge a low-range EV multiple times per day may add unnecessary inconvenience, while a large-range EV that you only use for short trips may be unnecessarily expensive.

Here are a few things you can do if you’re not sure what battery size is right for you.

You could keep a log of the kilometers you drive over a typical day or week to use as a reference for the type of EV you need.

Considering how often you do long trips may help you decide if a smaller battery car would suit you, or if you need a car with a larger battery.

The cost of hiring a car for occasional holiday trips could be more than covered by the daily petrol savings that come with owning an EV.

If have to do more than one extra charge each day, then a larger battery EV or a PHEV may better suit your needs.

 For more information, you could read EECA’s EV buyers guide :

EECA’s EV buyer’s guide

Ecotricity provides a simple tool that could help you find the right type of EV for you :

  Ecotricity – Buyers Guide

Range at 80%

It’s normal to fill a petrol car up to 100% and then only return to the petrol station when you’re as close to 0% as your nerves will allow.

With an EV, you may wish to consider the maximum range your EV will offer when it’s charged to 80%, because:

To maintain battery health, experts currently recommended that you don’t leave your EV charged at over 80% or less than 20% for long periods of time.

Motor Trade Association - EV battery advice

Charging over 80% is far slower than charging the first 80% of the battery.

 Some DC fast chargers will limit your charging to between 80% and 95%.

Charge.net.nz – Support page

Battery Health Report

A data reader can be plugged in to the OBD port of some EVs to conduct a battery health check.

This check is a way of estimating the remaining accessible battery capacity (or how much degradation has occurred).

Apps like Leafspy (for Nissan Leaf) and EVBATMON (for Mitsubishi Outlander) can be used to conduct these checks.

OBD II devices are available online, but not all OBD II devices are compatible with electric vehicles.

Stahlcar is one NZ supplier of compatible OBD II devices :

So far, only the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander can have their batteries checked with OBD devices.

Motor Trade Association – EV battery advice

Battery Warranty

 Most new EVs have battery warranties that guarantee the battery for a certain length of time (typically 5 – 8 years, sometimes longer) or distance (such as 100,000km).

 Ask your dealer about their battery warranty policies and what they cover.

Resale value

Like any car, resale value fluctuates depending on wear and  tear.

According to EECA, resale values are only starting to become established. It will also take time to determine how EVs, with their lower running costs will affect the resale value of petrol and diesel vehicles in the longer term.

  EECA – Electric vehicle Q and A  

 In addition to resale, an EV also comes with significant savings on fuel and maintenance.

 The average Kiwi EV owner will save approximately $2,500 on fuel and servicing costs each year

Ecotricity – Electric vehicle guide

5. EV Test Drive and Rental Options

The peer-to-peer rentals services, MyCarYourRental and Yourdrive , offer local vehicle rentals across New Zealand and have several electric options available.

My car your rental peer-to-peer car rental offers some EV rentals from local EV owners. 

Your Drive is another peer-to-peer car rental service offers some EV rentals from local EV owners.

Dedicated EV dealers have provided overnight test drive opportunities in some cases. This is done at the dealers discretion.

Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S

https://bluecars.nz

Nissan Leaf - Car Sharing

https://www.cityhop.co.nz  

  Europcar

 VW E-Golf

https://www.europcar.co.nz

Nissan eNV-200 camper

https://www.jucy.co.nz/useful-stuff/jucy-ev/new-ev-fleet

Mercury Energy

Subscription based EV Hire

https://evdrive.co.nz/

  Snap Rental

 Tesla Model S

https://www.snaprentals.co.nz/teslahire

  Thrifty Rentals

 Hyundai Ioniq

  https://www.thrifty.co.nz/electric-vehicles  

 Zilch launched as Yoogo Share and operates an all electric, car share scheme in Christchurch and Auckland.

Hyundai Ioniq, Hyudai Kona, BMWi3 - Car Sharing

  https://www.yoogoshare.co.nz  

  MEVO

 Audi e-tron Hybrid EVs - Car Sharing

https://mevo.co.nz  

Christchurch

https://www.europcar.co.nz   

Pit Stop courtesy cars - Hornby

If your car is in for a service, ask for a Nissan Leaf courtesy car for the day.

Nissan Leaf

https://www.pitstop.co.nz/  

Thrifty Rentals

https://www.thrifty.co.nz/electric-vehicles  

  Zilch

 Zilch launched as Yoogo Share and operates an all electric car share scheme in Christchurch and Auckland.

 Hyundai Ioniq, Hyudai Kona, BMWi3 - Car Sharing

https://www.yoogoshare.co.nz  

6. Comparing electric vehicles

Ice vs hev vs phev vs bev overview.

 Put simply, ICEs, HEVs and PHEVs use fossil fuels, a BEV does not.

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle

 These are vehicles whose engines only burn fossil fuels like diesel and petrol.

 The term ICE’d is commonly used when an EV charging station is blocked by a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Hybrid Electrified Vehicles (HEV)

A HEV combines a petrol-powered engine with an electric motor and a small battery to improve the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

A HEV does not have a plug. Its battery can only be charged when the vehicle’s brakes are used.

 A full battery will normally last for 1 to 5km of driving.

"Self-charging" is a marketing term often used to refer to hybrid vehicles (HEVs).

Driving Electric – What is a self-charging hybrid?  

When a car manufacturer refers to their car as "self-charging," they’re either talking about the regenerative braking system, which recaptures energy when the car brakes, or about using fuel in the car’s tank to charge the battery.

Unless it is covered in solar panels, a "self-charging" car is usually just a cunningly marketed hybrid.

Electrek – Self-charging and Anti-EV advertising

Tesmanian – Norway bans Self Charging Ads

Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV)

A PHEV will do much of its driving using an electric motor and a medium to large sized battery (usually good for about 10 to 50km of driving) that can be recharged through the vehicle’s brakes or by plugging it in.

 When the battery is low, the vehicle will switch to using it’s petrol-powered engine instead.

The AA – Know your PHEVs

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A BEV (or, colloquially, just EV) does not use fossil fuels. Instead it uses energy stored in a large battery to power an electric motor.

A BEV can be fully recharged by plugging in and it also generates energy when the brakes are applied via regenerative braking.

Range-extended EV (EV-Rex)

These are BEVs that have been fitted with a small, on-board petrol or diesel generator.

When the generator is turned on it can recharge the battery while driving in order to extend the vehicle’s range.

Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

 In hydrogen vehicles, hydrogen is either burned in a combustion engine, or reacted with oxygen in a fuel cell to generate electricity and power an electric motor.

Wikipedia – Hydrogen Vehicles

Vehicles that run on hydrogen are slowly becoming publicly available, like the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. However, they are not yet on sale in New Zealand and there are currently no commercial hydrogen refuelling stations in New Zealand.

Benefits of using hydrogen in cars

Hydrogen vehicles can be refilled quickly at a commercial station, the same way a petrol car can be refilled.

They can also drive similar distances to long range EVs between stops and they produce only water as exhaust.

They provide a potential way for oil and gas companies to maintain their business models, while becoming more environmentally friendly.

Downsides of using hydrogen in cars

You have to visit a commercial station to refuel.

Most hydrogen produced in NZ is made from natural gas (CH4). This is the cheapest way to make hydrogen, but it also releases CO2 into the air.

https://www.hiringa.co.nz/why-hydrogen

There are no public hydrogen refuelling stations available in New Zealand and they cost up to $2m USD to build each one.

phys.org – hydrogen fuel cell cars

Stuff.co.nz - hydrogen article

Hydrogen is expensive. It is currently sold for $12 to $16 US ($20 to $25 NZ) per kg and a typical full tank holds 5 to 7kg.

cafcp.org – cost of hydrogen

Hydrogen gas corrodes many of the metals used in petrol and gas pipes, so an entirely new system of supply pipelines would likely need to be built.

Wikipedia - Hydrogen embrittlement

More Information on hydrogen cars

For more detailed comparisons between hydrogen and electric vehicles, you could read the hydrogen section of the NZ EV guide :

7. Ownership costs

New evs compared to new ice vehicles.

New electric cars are currently more expensive to buy than new fossil fuel vehicles, largely due to high battery prices, research costs and low production volume.

The Guardian – EV prices, technology and range

 This is expected to change over the coming years, as battery prices drop.

 It will soon be cheaper for car manufacturers to build electric cars rather than fossil fuel cars.

Radio NZ - Electric cars are close to price-parity

 As of April 2019, the price parity point is expected to be reached in 2022.

EVtalk – EV price parity closer

 As more auto manufacturers move to EVs, prices will drop steadily.

Wikipedia – Supply and Demand

 Volkswagen has announced its intent to become a leading supplier of EVs by 2025.

Europe Autonews - VW and mass market EVs

Charging Equipment

All EVs in NZ should come with a NZ certified Level 2 EVSE charging cable (electric vehicle supply equipment). If you are buying an EV, make sure to check what types of charging cables it comes with and whether or not they are certified.

These cables will allow you to charge your vehicle from any standard power outlet—the same as plugging in your phone.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Type2-to-8amp.jpg

Different EV models connect to different plugs. Because of this, many destinations are installing charging stations with a   Type 2 socket  instead of a tethered cable. This means any EV can connect to their charging station, so long as it brings the correct cable. For example :

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Type2-to-Type1.jpg

A type 2 to type 1 charging cable – popular among Nissan Leaf owners and the early model BMW i3.

If you want to take your EV camping,  a 16 amp cable with a ‘Blue Commando’ plug will allow you to charge up at campsites.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/BlueCommando2.jpg

Depending on the public charging options near you, or if you are intending to take on adventurous road trips, a variety of charging cables will allow you to connect to different charging stations and may increase your charging options.

 Charging cables are available through EVSE suppliers like Blue Cars , EcoGeek and OEM Audio

Maintenance costs

EVs, on average, require less maintenance and servicing.

There are far fewer moving parts of an electric motor than there are in an internal combustion engine, this reduces the wear and tear in the motor.

 A BEV does not need an oil change, it does not have fuel pumps, starter motors, head gaskets, spark plugs, carburetors, exhaust or any other internal combustion engine issues.

Buying an electric vehicle

EVs use regenerative braking technology to charge the battery on-the-go. This means brake pads in an EV are used less and therefore wear down much more slowly.

Tyres may be worn down at a slightly faster rate because EVs accelerate faster and this can add extra stress to tyres at intersections.

Tyres North Amptopn - How EVs affect tyres  

Keeping your tyres inflated is important, not only for safety, but also for reducing the fuel and maintenance costs of your vehicle.

Tyres that are underinflated can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 4% and may deteriorate faster.

EECA has created a guide to good tyre management, you can find it here :

EECA - On the Road, Tyre Pressure

Windscreen wipers and windscreen fluid need to be replaced/refilled at the same rate as any other car.

Occasionally your cabin air filter may need replacing, your power steering and brake fluid may need to be topped up as with any other car. 

You can service your EV at most garages and most garages can fix standard problems with EVs.

Pitstop have a dedicated EV servicing option and have a fleet of Nissan Leaf courtesy cars.

Pitstop hybrid and electric vehicles

EVincible is a network of automotive workshops who have courtesy loan EV cars and experience with EV repairs and diagnostics.

EVincible EV workshops

You can get a warrant of fitness (WOF) or a certificate of fitness (COF) at any garage, the same as any other car.

Charging Costs

EECA calculates that the cost of electricity for an EV is equivalent to about $0.30/litre* - when charging at home. This is about 7 times cheaper than petrol.

   *Costs may vary , for more information visit : EECA - EV running costs

Standard electricity rates in NZ are usually between 20 and 30c per kWh.

Canstar Blue - Average electricity costs per kWh in NZ

ChargeNet is the biggest charging station operator in NZ, their rates are usually:

50kW DC fast chargers – $0.25/kWh plus $0.25/minute

25kW DC fast chargers – $0.25/kWh plus $0.15/minute

This usually works out to be about $0.60 litre, depending on your car. Which is roughly double the cost of charging at home, but still far cheaper than petrol.

  Charge.net.nz

 Some public charging stations provide charging for free as well, although these are not guaranteed to last in free-mode forever and can sometimes cause queues with longer wait times.

Otago Daily Times – Queues at rapid charger

For a real-life example of how much a road trip costs, take a look at this trip we did from Wellington to Paihia in a 2016 30kWh Nissan Leaf.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Infographic-Power-Trip-Web.png

Estimating fuel Savings

The NZ Government’s Right Car website provides a calculator that can be used for estimating fuel savings at rightcar.govt.nz

For example:

Driving a 2018 Toyota Corolla 40km a day, you could pay about   $1790  for petrol per year according to rightcar.govt.nz - 2018 Toyota Corolla  

Driving the same distance in a Hyundai Ioniq would cost about   $240  when charging at home at standard electricity rates. According to rightcar.govt.nz - 2018 Hyundai Ioniq

This would be an annual fuel saving of   $1550 .

There is very little difference in insurance between an EV and an ICE vehicle of a similar quality, cost and year. However, depending on where you purchased from, access to manufacture parts and repair agents may be challenging.

Seneca Group - Insuring electric vehicles

When insuring an EV, look for an insurance provider which has suitable EV terms.

The AA ,for example, provide cover for EV batteries if they are damaged in an accident.

The AA says that EVs are generally not more expensive to insure than an ICE vehicle.

AA.co.nz – Insurance for electric and hybrid vehicles

In 2017 it was difficult to obtain insurance for Teslas, due to their high speed and acceleration.

EV talk ­– Kiwis now get tesla insurance

However, Tesla now offers their own insurance solution - exclusively for Tesla owners.

Insure my Tesla

Cove Insurance contacted us to say they cover EV's 

8. EV Batteries

Weight and handling.

Electric car batteries weigh several hundred kilograms and are usually located in the floor of the car.

This low weight gives the cars a lower centre of gravity, adding stability when cornering and accelerating.

See Sigurd’s guide for more information.

Battery Degradation

Most EV manufacturers offer a 8­ – 10 year (or more) battery warranty because, over time, EV battery capacity can gradually decrease.

A car with battery degradation will still work well, it will just have slightly less range on a full charge.

It can be an attractive option if you want a cheaper car and don’t need to travel as far in between charges.

Flip the Fleet - Declining battery health

Why batteries degrade is a hotly debated topic with many theories and ideas as to how to avoid it.

The points below are the current, generally accepted, approaches that you can take to minimise battery degradation.

Degradation can happen when a vehicle is parked, fully charged, and not used for long periods of time.

Hot temperatures (particularly over 45°C) can also reduce battery life and some cars actively cool the battery to extend their lifetime.

Excessive fast-charging (such as several times a day over long periods of time) has been thought to reduce battery life slightly - however this is likely due to the heat generated when fast charging.

The Driven - Does the rate or type of charging affect battery life

Not all batteries are the same. A Nissan Leaf battery will, on average, degrade by about 3% per year. A Tesla battery has a much lower rate of degradation. On average, they will lose about 10% over 10 years.

Flip the fleet – Benchmark your leaf before buying

If you are concerned about battery degradation, talk to a dedicated EV dealer about your driving needs to find a vehicle that will suit you for many years to come.

For more information visit :

EECA - buying an electric vehicle - Batteries

This 22 minute video provides a very (very!) detailed description of what battery degradation is and how to avoid it.

Youtube - Battery Degradation Scientifically Explained

Sigurd’s EV guide also contains information on dealing with battery degradation.

NZ New EVs come with battery warranties and conditions (such as km driven or time) may vary. Some used vehicle dealers will also provide warranties with their used imports.

Consumer Protection provides resources on their website to help with warranties and your legal rights :

End of Life - Replace, Reuse, Recycle

Replacing a battery.

An EV Battery can typically last a minimum of around 10 years before the driving range it provides may have decreased to the point where it is no longer useful for the owner’s needs.

Sometimes it’s possible to just replace specific parts (cells) within a battery to revive the battery’s performance.

EVs Enhanced in Christchurch can help with assessing if this is the right approach for you.

Blue Cars in Auckland also offers individual battery modules for sale.

Battery upgrades are also becoming a real possibility.

The first battery upgrade trials are underway in Auckland, where old Nissan Leafs with 24 kWh batteries are being upgraded with 45% more range.

The Driven -– NZ battery module adds 45% range to Nissan Leaf

There are several companies in NZ that specialise in testing, fixing and replacing EV batteries and modules.

Blue cars in Auckland

EVs Enhanced in Christchurch

Buying a new battery can be expensive, but this will change in the future as battery prices are falling quickly.

Bloomberg – EV prices shrink with the battery

Research by EECA shows that even if owners need to replace the battery, an EV can be cheaper than a petrol car - in terms of whole of life cost.

EECA - Buying an electric vehicle

Just because a battery isn’t good enough for your EV doesn’t mean that it needs to be thrown away. An old EV battery is still useful and can be refurbished and reused to store energy at home, at work, or in other, lower-range EVs.

EECA – Electric Vehicle Batteries

Reusing and recycling old batteries

A common complaint about EVs is – what happens to the battery when I no longer need it?

It has been estimated that as many as 11 million tons of used lithium-ion batteries could accumulate worldwide between now and 2030.

The Guardian – Battery Waste Problem

Even if these couldn’t be recycled, it is still worth remembering that:

An EV may produce a 300kg to 600kg battery as waste after 10 years*

But a small petrol car, driving 14,000km per year, will produce an average of 20,000kg of waste CO2 over 10 years. **

And it is much harder to recycle used car exhaust in the air, than it is to recycle a solid battery pack.

 Sources

**NZ AA ­– Average light vehicle fuel consumption

EV Wiki – Weight of a Nissan Leaf battery

Wikipedia – Weight of a Tesla Model S battery pack

** CO2 emissions per fuel type

Lithium-ion batteries can be used for other purposes after being used in EVs, as energy storage in homes, businesses and charging stations

Evtalk.co.nz – retired EV batteries have a long second life

Some countries are now implementing policies that make car manufacturers and sellers responsible for their EV batteries.

In New Zealand, the Motor Industry Association (MIA) has introduced a code of practice for recycling old traction batteries :

MIA - EV Battery Code of Practice

The NZ Ministry for the Environment is also proposing a ‘Product Stewardship’ scheme that, among other things, would create regulation around how EV batteries are handled at the end of their life.

Ministry for the Environment – Regulated Product Stewardship

Old EV batteries can be reused as energy storage for home, camping sites, electricity networks, as backup power. Around the world, companies are exploring new ways to make use of their old battery packs.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Battery-EOL-Uses.png

Bloomberg.com – Where will EV batteries go when they retire

When a battery finally reaches the end of its completely usable life, it can be recycled. Battery recycling technology is being improved and pioneered around the world, for example:

Li-cycle – Battery Recycling

Retrievtech ­– Battery Recycling

Onto Technology – Battery Recycling

In New Zealand, a local E-waste recycling company, UPCYCLE, is leading the way in developing battery recycling technology:

  Upcycle.co.nz

And NZ-based company, Mint Innovations, are using biotechnology to extract metals from e-waste using microorganisms!

www.mint.bi

Australia is the world’s second largest producer of Lithium, Lithium Australia is investing in new methods to recover lithium and other metals from used batteries.

proactiveinvestors.com.au – Lithium Australia recycling innovations

For more information on recycling and reusing batteries, you could try these web pages.

The Better NZ Trust – What happens to old EV batteries

EECA – Electric Vehicle Batteries Research – Part 3 : Dealing with a degraded battery

Bloomberg – Where 3 million EV batteries will go when they retire

Fleetcarma – Electric Vehicle Batteries Reused – Recycled

Stuff.co.nz – What happens to all those EV batteries

12v Battery

As well as the main battery, most EVs have a traditional 12 volt (12v) lead-acid battery that stores power to run the car’s dashboard, computer and accessories like lights and stereo.

Like any other car, if the 12v battery runs flat the car won’t start, even if there’s charge in the main EV battery.

EECA - buying an electric vehicle

Battery Care

As with any car, the driver of an EV has a large influence on its performance over time.

Maintaining a charge between 20 and 80% wherever possible is generally thought to prolong battery life.

This is a very simple representation of avoiding battery stress

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Battery-Stress.png

Many EVs like those made by Tesla and Hyundai, will have that additional capacity built in. For example, the Hyundai Kona has a 67 kWh battery, but can only be charged up to 64 kWh.

EV-database - Hyundai Kona 64kWh

For more detail and recommendations on battery management, see Sigurd’s guide .

Other things you can consider are :

Frequent fast charging (multiple times per day) will increase the temperature of the battery can accelerate battery degradation of your EV does not have battery cooling systems.

Some batteries have thermal management systems that use a small amount of energy to protect the battery by regulating its temperature.

Only recharge the battery when needed. Instead of charging it to 100% at every chance. Many EV owners find they only need to charge every few days.

When storing an EV for a long time, follow the battery care instructions in the manual. Don’t store it with a fully charged battery.

Avoid exposing your battery to extreme heat or cold.

In very cold weather (below freezing), follow battery care instructions in the manual.

Check your EV’s owner’s manual for more detailed battery care advice, information on warranty conditions and expected useful battery life.

EECA have a best practice guide for battery care.

EECA ­– EV battery best practice guide

EECA also have a report on Battery Lifespan and Degradation.

EECA – EV battery report

9. EV Safety and Upgrades

Vehicle safety.

EVs sold in New Zealand must meet the same minimum vehicle safety standards as petrol and diesel vehicles.

EVs are newer cars and usually have higher safety ratings than older cars.

You can find ANCAP safety ratings for specific vehicles on the rightcar website, the maximum safety rating ANCAP gives is 5 stars :

Rightcar.govt.nz – ancap test result

Crashes and Fires

An EV’s high-voltage electric system is designed to automatically deactivate in a crash. They are far less likely to catch fire in a crash than petrol or diesel vehicles.

 EECA – buying an EV

EVs can be very quiet until they reach about 25km per hour, when the tyre noise can be heard from outside the car.

Some EVs emit audible sounds at low speeds to alert pedestrians and cyclists.

Worksafe EV Guidelines

Worksafe has published guidelines to keep EV charging safe, you can access the guide to home charging through the website below:

Worksafe – safely charging your electric vehicle at home

Worksafe – Public EV charging safety guide

Extension cables and multi taps

EV places a high demand on the plug it is charging from. Plugging other devices in to the same socket, or other sockets on the same circuit, can lead to shortages.

When charging an EV at home, do not use multitap devices and avoid using extension cords.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Multitap-No.png

For a quick and easy guide to home charging safety, take a look at EEVA’s EV charging tips:

EECA – EV charging

EVs and water

Electric car charging equipment is weatherproof and is specifically designed to protect both the car and its humans from electrical shock. 

All components are RCD protected and weatherised for protection while charging in the rain or using car washes.

EVs Enhanced

EVs Enhanced are a Christchurch based organisation that provides and develops upgrades that enable existing electric vehicles to remain usable, relevant and desirable as they age.

Among other things, they have developed firmware updates and battery replacements for the Nissan Leaf.

EVs Enhanced – Christchurch

30 kWh Nissan Leaf firmware

In 2018 a minor bug was found in some 30kWh model Nissan Leafs.

Nissan Leaf ‘Rapidgate’ bug

This bug was in their battery management system and caused an incorrect estimation of both battery capacity and remaining energy.

For owners of these cars, it appeared that the batteries were degrading much more rapidly than anticipated.

 A fix has been created, if you think your 30kWh Nissan Leaf may need it, you can find out more at your local EV dealer, or through EVs Enhanced

Nissan Leaf thermal management update

The batteries in early model Nissan Leafs (30kWh and 24kWh models) do not actively manage the heat of the battery.

If these cars are fast-charged several times in succession on a hot summer road trip, the battery temperature can climb into the red.

EVs enhanced have created a firmware update that will limit the charging speed to limit the battery temperature in these cars.

This update will mean slower charging when the battery is hot, but also a healthier, less degraded battery in the long run.

For more information on this firmware update, look at:

EVs Enhanced – firmware update

10. Charging

Charging is categorised into different ‘levels: 1, 2 & 3’ , based on the power and current used to charge an EV. The US-based Society of Automotive Engineers  SAE International  J1772 standard defines charging in levels.

These Levels are further categorised into ‘modes: 1, 2, 3 & 4’ , based on the type of equipment that is used to charge the EV. The  International Electrotechnical Commission , defines charging in  modes  ( IEC 62196 ).

Sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably, but should not to be confused with Type 1 or Type 2 charging standards.

EVs can charge using either AC electricity or DC electricity.

• AC electricity is typically used at home or at destinations like campsites.
• DC electricity is normally used at dedicated fast charger installations.

For a history of AC and DC you can read the Wikipedia page: War of the currents

Electric vehicles come with different types of connections and plugs.

For a full breakdown on these connections, you could look at NZTA’s guide to plugs and sockets :

NZTA – Charging point connectors and socket outlets

There are a few different ways of categorising charging, but knowing what they are is not essential for operating an EV.

For the everyday EV owner, knowing about the plug types and charging times associated with home charging, public fast charging and public AC charging is important.

10.1. Home (Trickle) Charging

Trickle charging is when an EV is connected to the same plug that you would use to charge your phone, an ordinary household power socket.

Trickle charging requires a specialised portable cable that is usually supplied with your EV.

This method of charging is slow, usually adding about 10km for every hour it the EV is plugged in.

Trickle charging is already available almost everywhere and does not require any special connections or upgrades.

There is a simple guide to low level charging on the Meridian website at :

Meridian Energy – How to charge an EV

Level 1 charging refers to home circuits that supply AC electricity at 110/120 volts.

In New Zealand, AC electricity is supplied from home sockets at 230/240 volts, not 110/120 volts.

Level 1 charging is therefore not used in New Zealand.

Chargepoint.com – EV charging level comparison

A list of different countries and the standard voltages supplied there.

Level 2 charging refers to home circuits that supply AC electricity at about 240 volts. This can supply more power than Level 1 charging.

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 hertz), and is capable of Level 2 charging.

Level 2 charging is also often used to refer to charging using a dedicated home charging unit.

Only use power supply equipment that is designed for use with your vehicle, and that is certified as safe for use in New Zealand.

Worksafe has published a guide on finding safe home charging equipment : Worksafe – Using the right plugs

Extension Leads and adapters

The portable charging cable should not be connected to an extension cable or multiboard as this may disable some of the protections and increase the risk of a fire.

The EVSE control box is by regulation not allowed to be more than 300mm from the power point in order to minimise the permanently live section.

Worksafe – safely charging your EV at home

The Driven, Blog – Explanation of EV charging speeds

Charging with ‘Mode 1’ basically means you are connecting your car straight to a wall socket without any safety equipment in between, and is generally not found in NZ.

Some old EV conversions, early model EVs and ebikes may use Mode 1 charging.

Mode 1 charging cables are considered dangerous and should not be used. They offer no circuit protection and can not turn off the current if there is a fault. A fault occurring while using a Mode 1 charger could result in the entire body of the car becoming live.

 For more information, you could look at :

 The Driven Blog - Explaining EV charging speeds

Charging with ‘Mode 2’ basically means you are connecting your car to a wall socket but with specialised safety equipment in between.

Mode 2 is now the default charging standard in New Zealand for places where a dedicated EV charging station isn’t installed.

Mode 2 cables contain a built-in control unit.

This unit is pre-set to maintain a certain charging rate, and protects your car with an In-Cable control and Protection Device (IC-CPD) that switches the charging off if something goes wrong.

Mode 2 EVSE cables are entirely portable.

Sometimes Mode 2 charging is called "emergency charging". But this is a misnomer as it is the most economical, most common and most practical regular charging mode for any battery size/daily distance under 100km.

For another simple explanation of charging modes, try  

NZEV – A guide to charging modes

• Jump to Mode 3

Charging Off Peak

Many power companies offer an ‘off peak rate’ designed to help EV owners.

‘Off peak rates’ are cheaper and usually occur at night.

Your car may have a built in timer which will allow you to choose when the car starts or finishes charging, and therefore take advantage of cheaper power overnight.

10.2. Dedicated Home EV Charging

Sometimes called ‘Level 2’ charging is when an EV is connected to a dedicated home charging point/station, rather than using an ordinary household power socket. They connect to the EV’s onboard charger.

These charging points provide high levels of current, between 16 and 32amps, which means they will require an electrician to install them.

Dedicated home charging points offer safer, faster and smarter charging options.

There are a growing number of New Zealand businesses that offer home charging solutions.

Many dedicated charging points come with enhanced features, like start/stop scheduling, wifi access, charge data logging, or connections to your local network company.

EV charging station providers in NZ

Chargemaster

EcoGeek Company

Goodmeasure

If you are looking at installing an EV charging station at home, the following resources might be useful :

Unison – guide to installing EV charging

Vector – guide to installing EV charging

Tesla – guide to installing EV charging

AC Charging Speeds

3.6 kW / 16A  adds about 100km per 5-6hrs

7.4 kW / 32A  adds about  100km per 2-3hrs

22 kW / 32A 3-Phase  adds about 100km in 50 minutes

However, not all EVs can charge at high speeds .

For example: AC charging for a Nissan Leaf cannot be more than 3.3kW (unless it has a 6.6 kW option installed.) Which means If you connect a Nissan Leaf to a 22kW charger, the car will charge at a rate of 3.3kW (or 6.6 kW)

Mode 3 basically means any dedicated EV charge point that supplies AC electricity to charge an EV. This might be a level 2 home charger or some types of level 3 public chargers.

Dedicated ‘Mode 3’ and ‘Level 2’ charging points describe the same type of charging.

These charging points contain safety equipment situated within the dedicated machine instead of on the cable.

Mode 3 is the only legal configuration for public AC charging in New Zealand, and is optional for home charging.

10.3. Public Charging

Dc fast chargers (or mode 4).

New Zealand has a national network of public fast chargers spread every 50 – 100 km in towns along major state highways. 

These fast chargers usually add about 100kms of range in 20 – 30 minutes.

Not all electric vehicles can use DC charging.

Most fast chargers have two cables attached to them, a CHAdeMO and a CSS-2 cable.

Normally, only one vehicle can charge at a time. Some fast chargers will allow a second vehicle to queue, ie: where the second vehicle will start charging as soon as the first has stopped.

DC Fast chargers are classed as Mode 4 (& Level 3) charging, and are the only charge points that actually contain a charger. (Mode 1, 2 & 3 use the battery charger inside the car.

Most vehicles will charge faster the emptier they are, and gradually slow down as their battery gets closer to 100%.

Three extreme examples are:

• the Nissan Leaf 24kWh will climb to a peak of 42 kW at 25% SOC (battery state of charge), then dropping rapidly to about 16 kW at 90% SOC. It loses its fast charge capability at about 80% SOC.
• The 33kWh BMW i3 will maintain a charging speed of over 45 kW until it reaches 85% SOC when it then drops away rapidly to 25 kW at 90% SOC
• The Jaguar i-PACE can maintain a charge at 60 kW (on a high powered station) until it is 50% SOC, dropping to 30 kW at about 90% SOC

All EVs can vary their charging speed curves slightly from one charge to the next, depending on battery temperatures.

Regardless of the vehicle brand or model, the last 20% of the battery takes considerably longer to charge which is why most fast chargers offer the option of stopping the charge at 80%.

Most low-range EVs cannot maintain a fast charge over 80%, and none can over 90% which is why DC rapid charging stations should only be used to about 80-90% unless the full range is needed to get to the closest charging station or destination.  This allows limited charging resources to be shared with others.

ChargeNet NZ Ltd operate the largest network of fast chargers in New Zealand (or the largest privately owned network in the Southern Hemisphere.) It spans from the top of the North Island down to the bottom of the South Island. (see separate section 10.4)

In order to access these charging stations, you need to register for an account on the ChargeNet website:

https://charge.net.nz/my/register/

ChargeNet stations usually cost per minute and per Kilowatt Hour (KWh). See their website, above, for rates.

ChargeNet’s DC fast chargers can be activated with an RFID keyfob (available for purchase on their website), or via their phone app or website.

Only one car can charge at a ChargeNet station at once. There are two cables on each station in order to support the two most common charging sockets (CHAdeMO and CCS-2.).  If neither plug fit your car's DC charge port, then your vehicle manufacturer may be able to supply a NZ certified adaptor (currently Tesla only.)

ChargeNet's DC fast chargers can be toggled between 80% charge and "Max", which is approx 95% SOC.

  https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/ChargeNet-Tritium.jpg

ABB Chargers

Some companies have installed ABB fast chargers in different areas across New Zealand.

Many of these chargers are free, and can be used by following the instructions on their touch screens.

If a charger is free, it may also have a 30 minute time limit that should be observed to be fair to other EV owners waiting to charge!

Some ABB chargers also supply an AC charging cable.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/ABBCharger.jpg

DC charging speeds

Different power ratings will charge EVs at different rates.

 25kW – adds 100km in about 40 minutes

 50kW – adds 100km in about 20 minutes

 100kW  - adds 100km in about 10 minutes

 250kW – adds 100km in about 4 minutes

 400kW – adds 100km in about 2 and a half minutes

 Not all EVs can use high DC charging speeds.

 For example, the 2016 Nissan Leaf will charge at a maximum power of 50kW.

 If you connect a 2016 Nissan Leaf to a 100kW charger, it will limit the charging rate to below 50kW.

Destination Charging Stations ("Destination Chargers")

Destination charging stations are the charging stations that businesses and attractions install in their carparks to support their customers with EVs.

The charging stations installed at these locations are usually Level 2 or Level 3 AC charging stations and will take several hours to recharge an EV.

While many destination charging stations are free to use, some may require you to check in with the local manager before you plug in.

It is important to be aware of the type of charging station at the location, as destination charging stations often only have a Type 2 socket. This this means that you will need to bring your own cable with you.

Type 1 to Type 2, or Type 2 to Type 2  cables can be used to connect to socketed destination charging stations, while charging at campsites may require a cable with a caravan (or ‘Blue Commando’) plug.

Tesla destination chargers often only work with Tesla-made vehicles, however some older Tesla destination chargers are configured for other Type 2 vehicles.

 If you are not driving a Tesla and are intending to use a Tesla destination charger, make sure you have checked that you can use it and have a back-up option – just in case!

 Some charging stations are also locked or may require an RFID card to activate them.

 If you are looking at installing a destination charging station, the following resources might be useful:

In order to charge an EV at a campsite, you must have an EV charging cable that can connect to caravan plugs (also known as Blue Commandos).

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/BlueCommando.jpg

This is a portable cable that can connect to your car at one end and to a 16amp Caravan plug at the other end.

Most campsite require payment of between $5 and $10, but check with the campsite owner first.

Meridian Energy - How to charge an EV

 Blue Cars - Blue commando sales

Cable Security

When using your own portable charging cable, the security of your cable may be an issue.

Most cars come with a way of locking the cable in your car. You could also use a padlock to lock the cable to something secure.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/LockedCable.png Image from electricvehiclewiki.com

10.4. ChargeNet

Who are chargenet nz.

ChargeNet NZ Ltd operate the largest network of fast chargers in New Zealand (or the largest privately owned network in the Southern Hemisphere.) It spans from the top of the North Island down to the bottom of the South Island.

Using a ChargeNet (Veefil 50kW) Fast Charger

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Veefill.jpg

Make sure both handsets are tucked into the station. Ensure your EV is switched off, then connect the compatible charging cable to your car – you should hear a click when you have connected securely.

Hold your RFID fob against the RFID section of the charging station, hold it there until the station stops beeping this may take a few seconds.

If you don’t have an RFID fob, you can activate the charging station using either the ChargeNet app, or by locating the charging station you want to use on the ‘Start Charge’ feature on the Charge.net website and clicking on "Start Charge":   https://charge.net.nz/my/station/

Press the 80% / Max button to choose to charge your car up to either 80% or to 95%.

Press the Start button to begin charging. The cable will lock on to your car.

The cable will unlock once the charge is complete.

If you want to stop charging and unlock the cable before then, press your RFID against the RFID panel on the charging station (if you used one in step 2) and then tap Stop (step 5). Wait until the red light on the handset extinguishes (CHAdeMO) before attempting to pull the handset out of your car.

Step 6  

Return the cable to the charging station.

If, for some reason, you need to un-plug and re-plug-in your car, you will need to return the cable to the charging station to reset the charging station.

Part 7  

 If the charging station is not working or out of service, this icon will light up.

  Part 8  

The Lock icon will light up when a charging session started by an RFID fob is in progress and the interface panel is locked.

Parts 9 and 10

The blue panel and LED screen will light up and display information when a charging session is in progress.

The LED screen displays minutes connected on the left; the centre toggles between battery percentage during charge, and total dollars spent; and the right displays kilowatt hours delivered.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, if it is safe to do so, please push the red emergency knob (e-stop) located nearer the base of the machine. This will immediately shut down and secure the DC Fast Charger.

Once the emergency is over, call ChargeNet, if possible, so that then can check if it is safe and restart the charging station. If it was a false alarm, turn the emergency stop knob to the right until it pops back out. Wait 5 minutes for the station to reboot.

Charge Net’s support page

Charge Net’s FAQ  page

Charge Net’s contact details

10.5. Charging Etiquette

Why we have rules.

Good charging etiquette is important to ensure a better public charging experience for everyone.

NZ’s leading EV advocacy group, The Better NZ Trust, have put together a very through etiquette guide that can be found here: etiquette guide

1.   All EVs Are Equal

Whether PHEV, small or large capacity, all EV’s have equal right to use charging stations.

Use your discretion in sharing, if there is a choice of high-powered/low-powered DC chargers nearby.*

Only use public charging stations if you cannot charge at home. Keep them free for those that need them. 

2.   Charging Not Parking

Parks displaying the official NZ sign are for charging only.

Do not park there if you are not charging, even if you’re in an EV.

3.   Be Nice to ICE

ICING refers to non-ev vehicles parking in charging spaces.

Be a good EV ambassador and remember your behaviour reflects other EV drivers and impacts the ICE drivers impression of electric vehicles.

Action to take on a blocked charging station includes leaving a note, reporting it to the carpark authority or city council for towing, or enquiring at the location as to who owns the vehicle and whether it could be moved.

4.   When to Unplug

Only unplug another vehicle if you are certain it has finished charging, or you have been given permission.

5.   Monitor With Your Phone

Make use of apps or txt alerts to monitor the state of charge.

6.   Don’t Set and Forget

Stations are designed to allow you to leave your vehicle charging. But you must be back before charging stops, and before any parking time limits are up.

Don’t expect others to unplug you. Relocate your car when it has finished charging or you have the charge you need.

7.   Check for Parking/Charging Limits

Some stations and/or EV parks have time limits to encourage vehicle turnover. Some free stations prohibit charging commercial vehicles. Check the signage before proceeding. Do not use free public rapid charging if you can charge at home.

Do not park illegally to reach the charging station.

8.   E-Stop is for Emergencies

Some fast chargers have an E-Stop button.

Only press E-Stop if you can’t get hold of the station operator by phone and you can’t stop charging or disengage the charging station through normal methods.

Reset it before you leave by twisting it to the right.

9.   OK to Check Progress

It is acceptable and normal to check the onscreen progress of a station that you are waiting to use.

You can also talk to the other driver if they are present and ask them how long  they are charging for, or when they might be done.

You can ask if they can finish earlier, but be graceful if they choose not to.

10.Look after the stations

Look after the stations, cables and plugs.  Report any damage to the service provider, & ensure cables are safely tucked away into their cradles.

11. How far can you drive?

In a nutshell.

It takes less than $25 to fill up even the largest EV battery, depending on your electricity provider.

How far could a petrol or diesel car drive on $25 of fuel?

The Tesla Model S has a max range of 600km, while the much cheaper Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a max range of 100km (EPA std). 

Statistically speaking, an electric vehicle can easily meet most people’s daily driving needs.

 EECA - How far can an EV go

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/EVRange.png

Image from EECA

The exact distance you can drive on a single charge depends on the type of EV, its battery capacity, the type of roads (flat, hilly or winding), your speed and your driving style.

If you’re driving beyond your EV’s battery capacity in one go, or on routes that you have never travelled before, consider planning a route with a public charging station at regular intervals.

Power Trip’s trip planning features will help you do this, by taking the terrain, elevation and charging options into account with each trip plan.

The EPA Range

The EPA ( USA Environmental Protection Agency – National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory ) maintains a database of consistent estimates of how far each new EV will travel on a typical journey, mixing highway and suburban driving.

Check the "EPA Range" if you would like to know more.

The EPA range is a ‘good guess’ and not a guarantee. Different circumstances, terrain and driving styles will make any cars’ range vary significantly.

Temperature

Temperature can affect the battery.

An EV battery is less efficient in extremes of hot and cold. As a general rule, it likes to stay within the same range of temperatures as the human body.

In NZ, extreme heat is not (yet!) such a problem, but a 5 to 10% decrease in range may occur during winter.

Other power usage

Using in-car features such as air-conditioning, heating or lights and wipers, will also use power and reduce your range slightly.

Why Does My Dashboard Range Change So Much?

All EVs have a dashboard range indicator (sometimes called the Guess-o-meter, or GoM) that provides a rough guide to the remaining kilometres of travel before the battery runs out.

The GoM indicator is usually based on your last few minutes of driving, and does not consider upcoming terrain.

Changes in speed, road slope or weather can cause alarming decreases in the remaining range shown on the GoM.

Your battery has not lost energy, it is just using more of it at that point in time.

Planning tools like Power Trip take the terrain into account to estimate your driving range and plan your trips accordingly.

Driving up hills uses more energy than driving along a flat road, but most EVs regenerate some of the energy driving downhill with regenerative braking systems.

Driving speed

Travelling at higher speeds will drain an EV battery faster, reducing the distance it can cover between charges.

Corners, bends and intersections

Depending on your driving style, roads with lots of tight corners and bends may also use more energy. Smooth acceleration and braking can help to conserve energy and extend an EV’s driving range.

Strong wind can affect an EV’s driving range. A tailwind can increase driving range, while a headwind can decrease it.

Wet roads, gravel roads and rural roads can reduce an EV’s driving range.

Tyre pressure

Under or overinflated tyres can affect an EV’s driving range. Making sure tyres are fully inflated to the recommended level will increase the range and EV can achieve on a single charge.

Flip the fleet – Top tips for EV tyres

Wheel alignment

Misaligned wheels can reduce an EV’s driving range by a small amount.

Flip the fleet has published detailed information on how tyre pressure and wheel alignment can affect EV driving range, you can find it at :

Flip the fleet – optimum tyre pressures and types

Extra weight

Adding extra weight, such as cargo or passengers can decrease an EV’s driving range. This is important to be aware of when towing a trailer or carrying a lot of extra weight.

External attachments like bike racks or roof racks can reduce an EVs driving range, as the EV will not be as aerodynamic.

12. Emergencies

What if i run out of power.

An EV gives advance warning of how it can drive before running out of energy.

This normally gives the EV driver enough warning to slow down and find the nearest EV charger.

When an EV does run out of energy, there are currently three options.

Option 1  - Push the EV to the nearest plug and ask to charge. This could be a nearby house, business or service station.

Option 2  - Tow the EV to the nearest fast charger. The AA will do this for you and it can be cheaper than being towed home or to a nearby service station.

Option 3  - Find a friendly local with a portable generator, ask them for a charge.

Vehicle support organisations are also researching portable charging options that will be available in the near future.

Avoiding a flat battery

Most electric cars will display a warning when their battery drops below 20% or 15% remaining.

Many EVs also display an additional warning at about 5% and may also limit the power and speed of the EV to extend its range.

Most EV owners come to know their car’s driving and range over time.

Other techniques you can use to stay safe and charged up on the road are :

• Charging in advance, instead of waiting until your battery drops to a low percentage.
• Planning trips in advance to get an idea for how much energy and charging you will need. Tools like Power Trip can help with this.
• Allowing for an extra 20 kms or an extra 10 to 20% for each trip. This is similar to having a ‘reserve fuel tank’ for emergencies.
• Driving more slowly along routes and roads where there are few charging opportunities. Reducing your speed from 100 km/h to 80 km/h can significantly extend your driving range.

Getting a flat battery

If you know you are about to run out of energy and have nowhere to recharge, consider turning off the EV and calling an organisation like the AA for help. It is better for the battery to sit at low charge, rather running completely flat.

If you run out of charge, the EV will cease to move. Most EV battery management systems will reserve a small amount of energy to provide a small amount of protection for the battery.

In addition to the main battery, most EVs also have a standard 12 volt car battery that powers the dashboard and controls.

Some EVs may also drain the 12v battery if their main lithium ion battery runs out of energy. This may mean that you can’t restart the car until you have recharged it.

In most EVs, when the 12v battery is flat, you may also not be able to charge the main battery. If you cannot start your EV and it will not recharge when plugged in, the 12 volt battery might need recharging or replacing.

A useful video describing how to resurrect a flat 12V battery, and how to store an EV for prolonged periods, such as during COVID-19 lockdown.

Check your EV owner’s manual for recommended best practices for getting your EV towed. For many EVs it will involve a flatbed tow truck.

Mistakes in towing can damage an EV and may void warranties. Following the instructions specific for your own EV is very important.

If you are an AA member, towing to a nearby charging station or home is usually covered under their roadside assistance program.

Many EVs, like other modern cars, will not come with a spare tyre.

Instead, they usually come with a tyre repair and/or inflation kit.

These kits usually work best for slow punctures, and will allow an EV to drive to the nearest repair location.

Most kits will blow glue into the tyre to create a seal from the inside. This process usually means that the tyre will need to be replaced.

For more information, check out the AA’s page on tyre sealant :

AA – tyre sealant, the quick fix for punctures

13. Electricity Plans

Ev talk’s list.

EVTalk maintains a guide on the different EV focused incentives and rates available through various power company offerings.

EV talk – Power deals

14. Policies and Support

Currently, Light battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are exempt from road user charges (RUC) until 31 December 2021 , or until they are 2% of the fleet.

In 2019 the Government announced a new programme that is intended to replace the RUC exemption with lower purchase costs of EVs after 2021.

Full details about this can be found on the Ministry for Transport website :

Ministry of Transport – clean car discount

Drive Electric

Drive Electric prepares and disseminates accurate and commercially useful information about EVs and EV-related topics. Individuals and Fleet Managers can become members of Drive Electric where they will receive access to expert white papers, and invitations to a variety of events including our EV Conversation events hosted by member organisations, Drive events hosted by car company members, Fleet events and White Paper workshops. Members also have opportunities to influence key legislative and industry forums.

The Electric Vehicle Association of Aotearoa (EVAA)

The Electric Vehicle Association of Aotearoa was set up to provide a fair and honest authority for managing manufacturer, supplier and end-user relations; support innovative research and work that may have aided in the uptake of electric vehicles; provide guidelines for acceptable standards; and promote the use and demand for electric vehicles by supplying information on the use and merits of driving electric to both central and local government, corporates and the general public of New Zealand.

The EVAA ceased to exist in January 2020 .

Government Targets

The standing Government policy is a target of 64,000 electric vehicles on our roads by the end of 2021. More information on Government policies can be found on the Ministry for Transport website:

Ministry of Transport – electric vehicles

How many EVs are there in NZ?

As at 31 Dec 2019 there were 14,093 pure electric vehicles registered in New Zealand and 4,421 plug-in hybrid vehicles.

You can find up to date statistics about electric vehicles on the Ministry of Transport website.

Ministry of Transport – monthly EV registrations

Pit Stop have dedicated resources towards developing their hybrid and EV servicing options.

Pitstop.co.nz – Hybrid and electric vehicles

A list of what an EV service at Pit Stop contains can be found on their website:

Pitstop.co.nz – Service packages

15. EVs, the environment and climate change

Climate change in general.

Humans add billions of tonnes of CO2 to the air every year by burning coal, oil and gas.

For 650,000 years the CO2 in our air has never risen above 300 ppm (300 C02 molecules per million air molecules.) That has changed in the past few decades and it has now risen to over 400 ppm.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/evidence-CO2.jpg

 Source = globalclimate.ucr.edu

 This has coincided with recorded increases in the global average temperature.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Nasa-temperature-chart.png

https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/"><em>Source = climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus.

The extra heat from this warming means there is more energy in the atmosphere. This makes extreme weather events more frequent and more intense.

The overview below provided by The Guardian gives an excellent overview of the problem and how EVs can contribute to the solution.

The Guardian – Climate Crisis Explained in 10 Charts

In New Zealand, 20% of our emissions come from Transport. Using electric vehicles would use reduce this by using renewable electricity sources instead of fossil fuels.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/NZ-Emissions-2019-04.jpg

The cumulative, increasing emissions from vehicles are also having significant effects on human health across the world.

The Guardian – Health effects of diesel

  Steps you can take

• Transport : If you can’t complete a journey by walking, biking, running or public transport, then use an EV and see if your mates need a ride.
• Research : Inform yourself and make lifestyle changes. Everything from going vegan to changing your lightbulbs helps. Join Genless
• Volunteer : Join or donate to local political movements like the Zero Carbon Act
• Protest: Find your local Extinction Rebellion group and join the peaceful protest movement.

Should I be worried?

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides the world with an objective, scientific view of climate change.

The 2018 IPCC report projected that we (<em>humans</em>) have 12 years to make massive and unprecedented changes to global energy infrastructure to limit global warming to moderate levels.

The full report – ipcc.ch/sr15

IPCC Report, risks and impacts – The Guardian.com

IPCC report summary – Vox.com

Our way of life needs to change drastically in order to make the emission reductions that this report says we need:

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/CO2-reductions.png

Climate change will lead to droughts and water shortages, more intense storms, changes in agriculture, disruptions to the global economy and supply chains, massive species extinctions, mass migration and climate refugees, frequent storms, and rising sea levels and flooding in many coastal cities like Wellington and Auckland. 

MFE – Impact of climate change in New Zealand

Climate change consequences of inaction – oecd.orf

Should I be angry?

What the oil companies knew, the great climate cover up – a 30 minute podcast by The Guardian

In the 1980s, oil companies assessed and forecast the planetary consequences of fossil fuel emissions.

In 1982 Exxon predicted that CO2 levels would reach around 560 parts per million by about 2060 and that the Earth’s average temperature would rise by about 2°C.

https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Oiltempgraph.jpg

 The Guardian – 1980s climate change warnings

Human effects on the climate were brought to the world’s attention in   1988 , when the director of NASA, Dr James Hansen was invited to testify on the subject to the US Congress.

Wikipedia – James Hansen

Despite this early knowledge, emissions have risen, misinformation has been spread and environmental laws have been weakened or ignored.

The Guardian – Climate denial lobby groups

Wikipedia – The Greening of Planet Earth, fossil fuel lobby video

Wikipedia – Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

The Guardian – Weakening of Obama-era environment policies

Reuters – Brazil rolls back environmental protection

Manufacturing an EV

Driving an EV instead of a petrol car significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing convenience or mobility.

This is true both in the day-to-day driving, where you avoid burning petrol, and over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Emissions released by manufacturing an EV are currently higher than those released by manufacturing a gasoline-powered car, but the difference is small compared to the emissions it avoids over  its lifetime.

 Below are a few of the many resources available online that discuss this topic in detail :

The Guardian – EVs emit 50% less greenhouse gas than diesel

The Guardian – How green are electric cars

EECA - Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicles: The environmental impact of electric vehicles, a New Zealand Perspective

The Carbon Brief – how electric vehicles help to tackle climate change

 International Studies show that manufacturing a mid-sized EV with an 150-km range results in about 15% more emissions than manufacturing an equivalent gasoline vehicle.

ucsusa.org lifecycle EV emissions – This is one of those studies

For larger, longer-range BEVs that travel more than 400 km per charge, the manufacturing emissions can be as much as 68% higher.

However, the lifetime emissions are still, generally, lower than the equivalent petrol car.

ucsusa.org – Life Cycle EV Emissions

A NZ based life cycle study found a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions when comparing a BEV to an ICE vehicle in New Zealand.

EECA – EV to ICE vehicle comparison

Resource depletion

This study, provided by EECA, shows that there is no significant impact on resource depletion, such as the minerals used in battery and electric motor manufacture.

It also expects that improvements in battery technology and recycling of the materials used in batteries and motors will further reduce resources used in manufacturing EVs.

Rare earth materials used in batteries

Most modern technology, including tech in fossil fuel vehicles and electric vehicles, contains some amount of rare earth materials.

Rare earth materials are used to make powerful magnets that are used in some types of electric motors and generators, and in everyday items like phone speakers and microphones.

the Conversation – Rare earths and technology

Rare earth elements, like neodymium, terbium, or dysprosium, are found in a permanent magnet synchronous electric motors (PMSM). Not all EVs use these motors, many EVs use induction motors which are based on copper coils and do not require permanent magnets.

Better NZ Trust – Rare Earth metals and EVs

This study, provided by EECA, explains that, while some EV motors do contain rare earth materials in small amounts, the resource depletion impact of rare earth metals is not significant.

Lithium is not categorised as either a rare-earth metal nor a precious metal.

Wikipedia – Rare Earth Elements

The lithium that we can currently process is estimated to last 350 years, while the crude oil we currently consume has been estimated to last for less than 50 years by OPEC in 2018.

BP – Oil in 2018

Most lithium is mined in Argentina, Chile, China and Australia but it can also be produced from sea water as a by-product of desalination. However, commercially viable methods of extraction have yet to be developed.

electrek – Lithium from Desalination

For more information on lithium (and other minerals) you can explore the USGS website at:

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lithium/mcs-2015-lithi.pdf  

87% of known Lithium is found in brine (salty water) deposits.  This kind of lithium is mined by pumping brine to the surface where the water evaporates and the remaining salts are extracted.

Lithium use in batteries  

Previously lithium was seen as little more than a by-product made while producing other minerals but this is changing as its value in batteries is realised.

Better NZ Trust – EV info

Environmental Impact

If you've got this far, then you're either desperate for a reason to hate EVs, or you're arguing with someone who wants to hate them.

As with any type of mining, or industrial activity, there are some environmental costs to extracting lithium from the Earth.

Two of the main arguments are (1) Excessive water use, and (2) Impacts on locals.

Lithium salts are extracted from water in mineral springs, brine pools, and brine deposits. Like any other mining process, this requires water, which has been steadily used up by other mining activities (eg. copper) in Lithium producing countries.

Bloomberg - Chile water rights for copper and lithium miners

While this is a concern, other processes like Fracking for natural gas are just as, if not more water intensive

Science Daily -– Water use in Fracking rises

The Guardian – Fracking and water use in the USA .  

Mismanagement of metal mines over the past decade has had some negative environmental impacts

The Guardian – Rare Earth Village Pollution

Humans make mistakes, and any endeavour that is not run properly will have consequences (take the " Deep Water Horizon oil spill”  for example, https://www.deepseanews.com/2019/09/the-lingering-and-extreme-impacts-of-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-on-the-deep-sea whose effects are still being felt today.and it is important not to confuse the long term impact of driving an EV with the general impact of mining, otherwise the only logical conclusion is to abandon all technology altogether.

The impact of lithium mining is tiny when compared to the many oil spills and ongoing environmental cost of extracting and burning fossil fuels.

However this impact will lessen over time, as research into alternative methods of energy storage is ongoing and EV battery recycling improves.

Green Cabs - Batteries vs Petrol

Issues around Labour and Mining

Cobalt often makes up a small amount of a lithium-ion battery, used in modern electronics like phones, laptops and EV batteries.

Cobalt is generally produced as a by-product during copper and nickel mining around the cobalt belt which runs through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa, where 60% of cobalt comes from. Labour conditions can be extremely poor and hard to track in this subsistence living conditions and there are many reports of child labour in artisanal mines .

Washington Post – Scrutiny of DRCs cobalt

EV battery manufacturers are also working to create cobalt-free batteries, and the next generation of batteries are forecast to contain below 10% cobalt in the battery cathode.

Inside EVs – blog on lithium battery manufacturers

The Cobalt Institute, whose members make up 70% of the cobalt production in the World, has put into place a zero tolerance policy for child or forced labour and this is backed by its ability to trace cobalt from rock to final product.

Continued pressure on automotive manufacturers is needed to ensure they only source sustainable cobalt from mines who are members of the CI. 

The Cobalt Institute

Cobalt is not the only material or product with supply chain issues.

If you want to avoid products that have been made with forced or child labor, this US Department of Labor guide contains a list of products to consider avoiding.

US Department of Labor – 2018 list of goods produced by child labor or forced labor

For more information on EVs and cobalt, try these resources :

Canadian Mining Journal – Cobalt Commentary

Inside EVs – List of battery makers that used the most cobalt in 2018

The Better NZ Trust’s FAQ page – Do we have enough rare earth metals for EVs?

Recycling batteries

A used EV battery still has value. It can be refurbished, repurposed or recycled.

An old EV battery can be removed and used to store electricity from solar PV panels that would otherwise go to waste.

Most of the raw materials in an EV battery can be recycled.

The Better NZ Trust has created a thorough guide to end of life batteries.

The Better NZ Trust - What happens to old EV batteries

Members of the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) have committed to a code of practice to have suitable systems in place for the use, capture, return, refurbishment, reuse, recycling or disposal of EV and hybrid batteries, with the aim that no batteries end up in landfills.

MIA code of practice

Even old EV batteries are infinitely recyclable and still too valuable to end up in a landfill. This is not necessarily the case with hybrid batteries.

Driving Electric – How recyclable are EV batteries

 It is also much easier to safely dispose of an EV battery than it is to safely dispose of the large cloud of greenhouse gasses and particulates that are produced over the lifetime of a fossil fuel powered vehicle.

Long tail pipe (emissions from electricity)

The "long tail pipe" of an EV refers to the emissions that come from generating the electricity the EV uses.

 In New Zealand, electricity is generated from a minimum of 80% renewables each year.

A good resource for understanding New Zealand’s energy emissions can be found on Ecotricity’s website:

Ecotricity – carbon-knowledge

Even in a fully fossil fuelled national grid, such as in parts of Australia (where coal is often the primary energy source) EVs still emit fewer emissions than a similar fossil fuel vehicle.

Bloomberg media – EVs are cleaner even where grids rely on coal

Renewable electricity generation

New Zealand currently generates 43,000 Gigawatt hours of electricity per year. Over 80% of that comes from hydro, solar, wind and geothermal sources.

 Wikipedia – The NZ Energy sector

Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment – Energy Statistics

If every car in NZ was electric, they would require and additional 20%, or about 9,000 GWh of electricity generation. At present another 10,000 GWh of renewable power has been consented, but is on hold until demand increases.

EECA’s figures on EV energy demand

Windenergy.org - Information about consented wind farms

Energy used in fossil fuel production

Energy is required to turn crude oil into petrol and diesel to power cars.

New oil fields now often need to operate in harsher environments and reach deeper wells. This requires increasing amounts of energy and machinery to extract crude oil.

From there, crude oil is transported to refineries via pipeline, boat or train.

Heat and chemical treatments are needed to distil crude oil and produce gasoline.

Gasoline then needs to be transported through the supply chain before eventually ending up in a tank underneath a petrol station.

Green Transportation – The cost of producing gasoline

What about hydrogen?

Making hydrogen fuel.

Hydrogen is a gas that can be reacted with oxygen to create water and energy.

Hydrogen can be burned in a combustion engine, for example as rocket fuel, or it can be used in a fuel cell to create electricity.

Wikipedia.org – Hydrogen Fuel

Hydrogen cannot be found on its own and harvested like oil. Instead, it needs to be created, by breaking apart other substances, like coal, gas or water.

Most of the hydrogen made in NZ is made from natural gas using a process called steam reformation. Hydrogen produced this way is called ‘Blue’ hydrogen because it creates greenhouse gas emissions .

Hydrogen that is made from fossil fuels can only have low emissions   IF  the emissions are captured and stored using " Carbon Capture and Sequestration ” techniques.

Carbon Capturing and Sequestration (CCS)  involves storing CO2, typically in in old, used-up, underground oil and gas reservoirs, coal beds or saline formations. This is not widely used and can cost around $150 US per tonne of CO2 stored.

CCS projects around the world only capture 0.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually*, during that same amount of time, human activity creates over 35 billion tonnes of CO2 gas**.

* co2re.co/FacilityData

** co2.earth/global-co2-emissions , (9.795GtC x 3.67)

There is, however, also research being done on ways to store CO2 in materials, like concrete and carbon fibre. This would be much more cost-effective than burying it.

  https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/co2-capture

Hydrogen can also be made from water by using electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas.  This process is called High Pressure Electrolysis .

Hydrogen made this ways is called ‘Green’ hydrogen if the electricity used to make it comes from renewable energy sources.

Making hydrogen this way, In New Zealand, costs about $8.90 per kg before the costs of transportation, storage and retail sale are added.  While making it from natural gas currently costs $2.70

Concept – H2 report Summary, pages 6 and 8

Why make hydrogen?

Hydrogen fuel has a lot of practical uses. Making it could create more jobs and allow countries like New Zealand and Australia to sell the renewable energy they generate to other countries.

The NZ Government is exploring how ‘Green’ hydrogen could create a new industry in New Zealand.

Beehive.govt.nz – New Zealand Government Hydrogen Plan

For more information about hydrogen fuel and refuelling stations, the California Fuel Cell Partnership offers a useful two-page overview.

cafcp.org – Hydrogen stations fact sheet

Concept Consulting have published an in-depth, detailed report on the potential future of hydrogen in New Zealand :

Part 1 - Summary

Part 2 – Analysis

Part 3 – Research

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment has released a report on the costs and impacts of transitioning to hydrogen for New Zealand:

MBIE.govt.nz – hydrogen fuel

A hydrogen vehicle either burns hydrogen in a combustion engine, or uses it create electricity in an on-board fuel cell. That electricity is then used to power an electric motor.

Benefits  

Hydrogen cars can be refuelled faster, about the same time as refuelling a petrol car.

Modern hydrogen cars have a driving range the same as high-end EVs (about 600km) and

The exhaust they produce is water, not CO2.

An industry built around making, transporting and storing hydrogen could potentially create more jobs

Visiting hydrogen refuelling stations maintains the traditional fuel-supply business model.

Hydrogen cars are expensive.

It is cheaper to make hydrogen from natural gas or coal than from water. However, this process produces CO2, which is then released into the atmosphere.

Wikipedia – Hydrogen production

There are currently no hydrogen refuelling stations in New Zealand and no hydrogen vehicles for sale, as it costs up to $2m USD to build a hydrogen refuelling station that won’t be used until enough hydrogen vehicles are on the road.

Auckland Transport – NZ’s first hydrogen powered bus

It takes about 3 times as much electricity to drive a car powered by ‘Green’ hydrogen than it does to drive an EV.

This is because it takes electricity to make hydrogen from water, some of that energy is then lost at each step before it is used to turn the wheels of the car. The image below compares the efficiency of hydrogen to the efficiency of an electric car.

  https://thepowertrip.co.nz/assets/EVGuide/Hydrogen-vs-EV.png  

Hydrogen gas corrodes many of the metals used to make pipes, which means the existing gas and oil infrastructure would need to be upgraded or replaced before it could carry hydrogen.

Wikipedia – Hydrogen Embrittlement

Below are some resources that you can use to learn more about the pros and cons of both hydrogen and electric vehicles.

The Better NZ Trust provides resources that compare the energy efficiency of petrol, hydrogen and electric cars : Better NZ Trust – Hydrogen vs Battery

This lengthy, somewhat challenging to read report, puts the cost of building 36 hydrogen fuelling stations at ( at least ) USD $3m each. Each proposed station will supply between 200 and 1,200 kg per day, depending on its size. This is enough to fill up to 40 to 240 vehicles.

Energy.co.gov – Annual Assessment of the time and cost needed to attain 100 hydrogen refueling stations in California

The EV news site, Inside EVs, created a summary of energy efficiencies for different vehicle types.

The energy efficiency % describes how much of the energy harvested (digging up oil, making hydrogen or generating electricity) actually gets turned into movement.

 The results are:

 Battery EVs: 73% efficient,

 Hydrogen Fuel Cells: 22% efficient,

 Fossil Fuel Cars: 13% 

 insideevs.com – comparing vehicle efficiencies

A resource with numbers and analysis of the cost of operating hydrogen vs battery vs petrol vehicles has been created by Clean Technica:

Clean Technica – Hydrogen cars

Hiringa is a New Zealand based company that makes hydrogen. You can find out more about them on their website : https://www.hiringa.co.nz

The Real Engineering Youtube channel has created an informative video about hydrogen powered vehicles.

16. News, media & social media

Electrifying conversations.

An EV and environment-focused podcast founded by Dee West, one of New Zealand’s first EV Champions, and co-founder of ChargeNet

Electrifying Conversations Homepage

NZ EV Podcast

A podcast run by EV converter and enthusiast Theo Gibson.

 A NZ made magazine focused on developments in the EV industry.

EV Facebook groups

Local EV owners have set up facebook groups to help support and organise the EV community and to provide a place for future EV owners to ask questions and join the discussions .

• NZ EV Owners
• Auckland EV Owners
• Bay of Plenty EV Owners
• BOI EV Owners
• Central Otago Lakes EV Owners
• Christchurch EV Owners
• Dunedin EV Owners
• Hawkes Bay EV Owners
• Inver-electric-cargill
• Manawatu EV Owners
• Mid Canterbury EV Owners
• Naki EV Owners
• Nelson Tasman EV Owners
• Northland EV Owners
• NZ Cybertruck
• NZ Electric Vehicle Buy and Sell
• NZ Hyundai EV Owners
• NZ Iced and EV Blocked
• NZ i-Miev Owners Group
• NZ Nissan LEAF Owners
• NZ Renault Zoe Owners
• South Canterbury EV Owners
• Tesla Owners Club NZ Official  
• Tesla Model 3 NZ Owners
• Tesla Talk NZ
• Waiheke EV Owners
• Waikato EV Owners
• Wellington EV Owners on Facebook

17. Useful Links

Better nz trust.

https://betternz.org

Carbon Brief

https://www.carbonbrief.org

Carbon Counter

An interactive chart that evaluates car running costs against climate change targets.

http://carboncounter.com

Down to Earth Climate Change guide

Down to Earth Climate Science is a collaboration between the University of California and NASA that uses a huge array of data to communicate and instruct about variety climate change issues

https://globalclimate.ucr.edu/index.html

Drive Electric association

https://driveelectric.org.nz

EECA’s electric vehicle buying guide

https://energywise.govt.nz/on-the-road/electric-vehicles/buying-an-electric-vehicle

Ecotricity – Guide to EVs

https://ecotricity.co.nz/electricvehicles

EV talk magazine

https://evtalk.co.nz

Flip The Fleet

https://flipthefleet.org

https://genless.govt.nz/

NZ Electric Vehicle Guide

https://www.electricheaven.nz/

NZ Government EV information

https://electricvehicles.govt.nz

Sam’s guide to the Nissan Leaf (pre 2018 models)

https://samholford.github.io/leafguide

RightCar.govt – Emissions Ratings

https://rightcar.govt.nz/co2-ratings.html

18. Dedicated EV Dealers

Eeca’s dealers guide to selling evs.

EECA Dealers Guide to Selling EV

Dealers offering comprehensive EV sales

Auckland City Electric Vehicles (Takapuna)

Autolink (Ponsonby)

Coventry Cars (Wellington)

Drive EV (Taupo)

EV City (Christchurch)

GVI Electric (Penrose)

Hamilton EV (Hamilton)

Harwood Cars (Pt Chevalier)

PlugN Drive (Bombay)

Volt Vehicles (Birkenhead)

If we you are (or know of) a dedicated EV Dealer that is not on this list, let us know.

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Across NZ on an EV road trip: Where to stop, stay and charge

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Nomad Safaris runs luxury private tours of Queenstown's history, people, lakes, and mountains using zero-emission vehicles. Photo / Supplied: Emily parker

Motor Industry Association statistics show a record 3290 Teslas registered in Aotearoa last year, up from 592 in 2020. That accounts only for new Teslas – add other brands, used EVs, hybrids and other low-emission vehicles, and it's obvious something's giving way on our roads.

The vehicles' ever-increasing range and an explosion (possibly the wrong word) in charging stations are making it easier to take your EV for a roadie, and many regional tourism organisations have compiled itineraries designed for greener motorists. NZTA lists charging stations that meet its criteria at journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ev-chargers/chargers .

The Twin Coast Discovery Highway and sibling Northland Journeys routes are the best way to roadtrip around Te Tai Tokerau. The Northland Journeys break the 800km highway into 10 manageable 50km-150km stretches. Each map includes charging points in the icons (check before you travel to ensure they are available and compatible). northlandnz.com .

The Coromandel

The Coromandel EV Scenic Touring Route is a classic summer journey. The State Highway 25 loop through Karangahake Gorge and around the peninsula's coasts takes in all the sights with regular stop-off points and the entire route is electrified - that is, you'll find charging stations at useful distances. Find more information at bit.ly/3nxVeLQ .

Touring the Waikato's surf beaches, forests and other attractions, you'll have no trouble powering up your EV or hybrid – charging stations are dotted around the region from Hampton Downs motorsport mecca in the north to provincial centres like Morrinsville, Matamata, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Te Kūiti, even smaller fishing, swimming and surfing spots like Raglan and southerly Mōkau.

Hamilton's many options include malls (The Base and Garden Place are two). Check out local developer Hikotron: download their app and locate the two stations (SH1 expressway, Frankton, and the exciting Innovation Park, Ruakura), monitor how much power is being drawn down and make payment. They hope to roll out this technology throughout the country in coming months.

Holidaymakers have been getting a charge out of Rotorua for generations, and most of the area's attractions provide power points. There are several around the CBD (1134 Haupapa St, across from the library) and outskirts.

North of town, e-motorists can recharge at Skyline Rotorua, one of the region's most-visited venues with the gondola up Mt Ngongotahā, summit cafe, restaurant and wine tasting room. At the southern end of town, Te Puia is home to the Southern Hemisphere's tallest active geyser, Pōhutu; the surrounding geothermal valley; Kiwi Conservation Centre and more. Naturally, there's plenty of kai and a charging station in the southern carpark. On the way to Hell's Gate or whitewater rafting in Ōkere Falls, recharge at Rotorua Airport.

It's easy to get off the beaten track in the Taupō region with a number of accommodation providers providing EV chargers. Motutere Bay Top 10 Holiday Park and Motuoapa Bay Holiday Park, on the lakeshores between Taupō and Tūrangi, have chargers on site; Tongariro Lodge, on the banks of the legendary trout-fishing river, offers free charging for guests.

Chargers are available outside several visitor experiences – the battery can power up while you're taking a Taupō Tandem Skydive over the lake, a soak or treatment at DeBrett's Spa, a Hukafalls Jet joyride or browsing Sunday's Market Central.

Ruapehu's Adventure Highway opens the door to two national parks, the dramatic volcanoes, landscapes ever-changing from almost lunar landscape to rivers and lakes and the dense greenery of Pureora Forest.

Take the time to explore this too-rarely visited location with pit stops like the 7.5m carrot at Ōhakune Carrot Adventure Park; Makatote Viaduct, one of our great engineering feats; fresh mountain air at National Park Village; Kiwi-as Smash Palace in Horopito or a secret lagoon at Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve.

Recharge at the National Army Museum, Waiōuru; Ōhakune and National Park Village; Whakapapa and Tūroa wintersports resorts, Mt Ruapehu; and Hakiaha St, just off Taumarunui's main drag. ruapehu.com

Don't let the name fool you. The Country Road is not one but several routes designed to skip main highways and divert visitors into Manawatū's dramatic landscapes, valleys, villages and towns to enjoy secret swimming holes, country pubs, lush gardens, short bushwalks or backcountry hikes and riverside camping spots.

Charge your EV in Mangaweka, starting point to routes bearing names like Peep-o-Day, Stormy Point and less imaginatively Manawatū Scenic Route. You'll easily reach Palmerston North for another zap before you hit the road to your next destination. : target='_blank'>manawatunz.co.nz/the-country-road

Wellington Region

Leave the capital and take a trip over the Remutaka Hill (my 5ft-nothing grandmother used to do it weekly in a 1930s Ford when it was a one-lane clay track, so your EV will handle it) and get right off the highway with a roadie to the North Island's southern coast.

Get a good charge at Te Kairanga estate or Martinborough's Top 10 Holiday Park and stroll around the quaint wine-and-food village. From there, head south, stopping for fish 'n' chips at Lake Ferry Hotel and another charge if you skipped it at Martinborough.

Not-to-be-missed sights include Pūtangirua Pinnacles (rock spires technically known as "hoodoos") from The Lord of the Rings; Cape Palliser, where the brave and fit can climb 258 steps to the candy-striped lighthouse. Overnighting? Nip back around Lake Ōnoke to Wharekauhau Country Estate, which has a handy charging spot, and home past vast, shallow Lake Wairarapa.

Marlborough

Despite its lengthy coastline, Marlborough is a compact region, its landscapes ranging from Kaikōura's temperamental coast to serene vineyards and the utterly gorgeous sounds. Some ideas: head down the east coast to Marfell's Beach, picnic and walk up to Cape Campbell lighthouse, return to Blenheim for shopping and a winery lunch (recharge at Ward or Raparua Rd, Blenheim). It's a quick run to Picton for an award-winning toastie; from there, venture into the sounds by car or cruise.

Arthur's Pass National Park

If you've "done" Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, how about a change of scenery? A two-hour drive west from the city is Arthur's Pass National Park. Surrounded by the Southern Alps, the namesake village is the ultimate spot for tramping or day walks such as Castle Hill and the Devil's Punchbowl, a short, popular waterfall track with excellent photo opportunities. Watch for kea – they'll peck anything off an old-school gas-guzzler or your shiny new e-car.

You'll find charging stations at Darfield, Springfield, Castle Hill and Arthur's Pass Village. For tips and deals on touring central Te Waipounamu by EV. good-travel.org/go-electric-eco-tour

Mackenzie Country

Many would be hard-placed to pinpoint it on a map but the Mackenzie Country can claim our highest mountains, longest glaciers, turquoise-est lakes, golden tussock and some of the world's darkest skies. Hint: it's inland from Timaru, centred around the heartland town of Fairlie (population 940 and a charging station).

Head towards Lake Tekapo and its 165ha forest park, picnic sites, dog runs and 24km of bike and walking trails. You'll find another charger across the road from the world-renowned Dark Sky Project before continuing to the district's largest town, Twizel.

The Hydro Heritage Trail is a great insight into the engineering expertise that went into creating the hydro-power system and the communities that grew around it – an excellent way to explore the region. Charger is in the town car park.

Central Otago

This region has more than its fair share of charms, many combined into the new Central Otago Touring Route through those spectacular landscapes between Dunedin and Queenstown. The 340km itinerary has been established as EV-friendly with charging stations installed in Dunedin, Middlemarch, Ranfurly, Ōmakau, Alexandra, Cromwell and Queenstown.

Along the way, explore heritage sites, curling in Naseby, Highlands Motorsport Park – fancy a lap in their all-electric Porsche Taycan, 0-100km/h in 2.4sec? – wineries, quirky villages and all those other attractions you associate with this year-round playground.

At both ends of this route (also at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch), Go Rentals enables you to travel carbon-neutral by hiring a Tesla, which might be a good test-drive for those considering investing in an EV. See gorentals.co.nz/tesla-rental-nz .

For those concerned about their footprints, Nomad Safaris runs luxury private tours of Queenstown's history, people, lakes, and mountains using zero-emission vehicles ( nomadsafaris.co.nz/queenstown-tesla-private-tours ); Envy Experiences has a similar offering based around Milford Sound. envyexperiences.co.nz .

Southern Scenic Route

The Southern Scenic Route is a 610km triangle between Queenstown, Invercargill and Dunedin with side trips to Fiordland. The 200km, 2½hr Western Southland section from Te Anau to Invercargill skirts Fiordland National Park and the rugged south coast, a glimpse into Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

Take your time: apart from the gobsmacking views, you've got activities like mountain biking, trout fishing, hunting, boating and caving. The three-day Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track is a world-class outdoor experience; so too jetboating across Hauroko, our deepest lake, and Wairaurahiri, the 27km river that falls 200m to the sea, nicknamed "New Zealand's longest waterfall".

There are charging points in Invercargill, Riverton, Tūātapere and Te Anau. fiordland.org.nz/visit/southern-scenic-route

Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail

On the southern coast, the Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail is a rewarding detour off the main roads, covering 70km of road, part tar-seal and part gravel. From this area of isolated beaches, dramatic coast, native forests and wildlife, sheep and beef farming, you'll gain an insight into settler New Zealand. There are charging points in Fortrose, Curio Bay and Papatōwai. southlandnz.com/the-catlins/heritage-trail/catlins-coastal-heritage-trail

Check traffic light settings and Ministry of Health advice before travel at covid19.govt.nz

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Make your fleet's journey to zero-emissions easy.

Power Trip helps companies optimise, manage and transition to low-emissions fleets by optimising transport use, engaging and supporting drivers, and providing advanced EV simulation technology.

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FASTER EMISSIONS REDUCTION WITH FEWER HEADACHES

Save money and time with power trip. simulate the performance of evs in your fleet before buying. optimise fleet operations to maximise your ev potential. support and engage drivers on fuel efficiency and ev range..

Find out how Power Trip helped Kāinga Ora accelerate their fleet electrification journey View our case study

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Take the headaches out of figuring out how to reduce your fleet's emissions by letting your data do the work. Link your telematics data to Game Plan and you'll quickly see where the biggest opportunities for impact on emissions are, be they replacing vehciles, changing up your transport habits, or removing poorly utilised vehicles from the fleet.

  Electrify as the world evolves

Game Plan uses your EV policies and travel data to simulate how the electric vehicles available in today's market will perform in your fleet, including where your new EVs will need to charge, how much energy they will use each day and whether or not that meets your requirements.

  Full electrification strategy

Create a data-driven charging strategy to support your drivers and optimize the rollout of EVs into your fleet. understand what public chargers your drivers will rely on and what their travel needs are to then determine the right mix of public, private and home chargers for your fleet.

Read more about Game Plan here

  Educate your drivers

Once you have EVs in your fleet, bring staff up to speed quickly with Power Trip's interactive, plug-and-play EV route planner and charging infrastructure map. Let your drivers experiment with different trips, routes and vehicles to create optimised itineraries and confidently manage their EV charging en-route.

  Optimise their charging

Reduce the time spent charging while your staff are on the road with optimised routes that account for road speed and layout, elevation changes, driver behaviour, weather and other energy-consuming factors, from the Power Trip route planner.

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Include your calendar appointments in your trip plans to find the minimum departure charge your drivers need to achieve a productive day. Link your charging stops to meetings and other times vehicles are not in use to reduce waiting time.

  Power Trip fleet app

Incentivise safe, fuel efficient and low emissions driving while rewarding low-emissions transport choices with the Power Trip fleet app. Transform punitive monitoring of driving behaviour into an engaging and rewarding experience for your drivers.

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Create positive feelings towards safety and efficiency with driver scores that grow when they make safe, low emissions choices, instead of shrinking whenever they make the wrong choices.

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Use your telematics data to give drivers the insights and feedback they need to improve their driving and create bonuses, competitions and leaderboards that encourage them to learn, improve and choose to use the EVs in your fleet.

  Power Trip charger booking

Encourage better utilisation of your charging station assets by making them bookable and shareable with the Power Trip charger booking system.\

  Manage internal schedules

Create staff schedules and permissions to manage charging times during work hours and ensure everyone gets the charge they need.

  Create a private network

Collaborate with other businesses to share charging station access and extend your fleets driving range with a wider, bookable, community of private charging station networks.

  Power Trip battery tracker

Electric cars are two valuable products in one, the battery and the vehicle, and new battery stewardship regulation is emerging across the world. Track, understand and maintain the health of your battery with Power Trip.

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Address behaviours that impact on battery health and capacity to maintain your assets resale value and preserve your fleets driving range.

  Product stewardship

Reduce the future impact of your assets by participating in New Zealand's up-coming battery stewardship program.

Plan your trip with travel time information, traffic cameras, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures.

Enter where you are travelling from and to.

This website is indicative of journey options only. There may be closures or unplanned events that could make the route shown unsuitable. Please check this section before you travel.

Find regional traffic information to help you plan your journey. See current travel times, traffic updates, information on incidents and roadworks, and traffic cameras in your region.

This section is indicative of journey options only. There may be closures or unplanned events that could make the route shown unsuitable. Please check this section before you travel.

Find road closures, incidents, roadworks and traffic cameras across New Zealand.

View traffic cameras from across New Zealand to see current road conditions, traffic jams and heavy traffic.

Use our holiday journey planner to check traffic predictions before you leave.

Every holiday period and long weekend we see large numbers of people heading out of the main centres to popular holiday destinations and this can cause queues and delays.

To help alleviate these problems we recommend planning your travel well in advance and travelling outside the busiest periods. To make this easier for you, we’ve created an interactive traffic prediction map for holiday periods. The map shows when we expect traffic to be heavy based on travel patterns from previous years.

Electric vehicle charging stations must meet certain requirements to be listed on this map. Find out more about the requirements and the nationwide network of public charging stations. Charging station details are based on information provided by the charging station operators.  Read the full disclaimer .

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NZ EV Rental Guide: Hiring an Electric Car in New Zealand [2024]

Nz pocket guide is 10 years old. thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade, everything you need to know about renting and driving an electric car around new zealand.

Enjoy the freedom of exploring New Zealand on a road trip without the shocking carbon footprint by hiring an electric vehicle (EV). New Zealand is equipped with EV charging stations around the country; all you need to do is hire an electric car and hit the road. We’ll go through the EV car rental companies, how to plan for an EV road trip, as well as the CO2 emissions and fuel costs you’ll save in this guide on how to travel around New Zealand in an electric car.

While you’re here, don’t forget to check our How to Plan a Car Road Trip in New Zealand for our generic car road trip tips.

Video: The Complete Guide to Renting an Electric Car in New Zealand

Can’t be bothered reading? Listen to our video on electric car and EV rentals in New Zealand or keep scrolling for the full article.

What You Need to Rent an EV in New Zealand

Renting an EV in New Zealand is easy if you have the following:

• A full valid driving license
• If your driving license is not written in English, an International Driving Permit
• A credit card (if you don’t have a credit card, see  How to Hire a Car in New Zealand Without a Credit Card )
• To be at least 21 years old (if you are under 21 years old, see  The Best New Zealand Car & Campervan Rentals for Ages 18 to 25 ).

For more details on the requirements for renting a vehicle in New Zealand, see  Renting a Car in New Zealand: The Essential Guide .

Electric Car Rentals: Can You Hire Electric Cars in New Zealand?

New Zealand has a range of electric vehicle rentals available. A few of the country’s popular car rental brands have adopted an EV option into their fleet, from the Nissan Leaf to the latest Tesla models.

9 Best EV Car Rental Companies in New Zealand

• GO Rentals – Tesla available.
• Snap Rentals – VW E-Golf available.
• Avis – Tesla and Hyundai Ioniq and Kona available.
• Europcar – BMW i3 available.
• Enterprise – Tesla available.
• SIXT – Audi e-Tron, Mercedes Benz EQA and Polestar available.
• Mode – Nissan Leaf available
• Blue Cars – Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-Miev available
• Renny Rent-A-Car – Nissan Leaf available.

You’ll find that most of these rental companies have depots at New Zealand’s most popular airports, including Auckland Airport and Christchurch Airport. See which companies also appear on The Best Car Rental Companies in New Zealand .

Most car rental companies in New Zealand only have one or two electric car models to choose from, with ranges from 200 km (124 miles) to 500 km (310 miles). Be sure to compare your offerings before choosing a rental.

EV Charging Stations

Sure, New Zealand has EV car hire but does the country have the charging infrastructure to make an EV trip viable?

How Many EV Stations and Tesla Superchargers are in New Zealand?

There are EV charging stations along most of the major state highways (or a short distance from the highway) every 20km to 85km (12 to 53 miles). An exact figure on EV charging stations is hard to determine, due to new ones being added. However, as of 2021, ChargeNet has installed approximately 280 DC rapid charging stations in New Zealand. There are at least another 300 AC charging stations registered on PlugShare . Although Tesla Superchargers are much less frequent, they can still be found in 14 of New Zealand’s largest towns and cities.

Compared to more than 1,260+ fuel stations around New Zealand, there are fewer EV charging stations. This means that unlike driving a vehicle with a combustion engine, travelling long distances in an EV takes a bit of planning.

How to Plan for a Road Trip in an EV

Download the appropriate apps or go to the ChargeNet , PlugShare and/or Tesla websites and plan which charging stations you’re going to use. The New Zealand Transport Agency has a pretty good journey planner for EVs too.

Bear in mind that charging can take 30 minutes to three hours, plan for a few things to do while you’re vehicle is charging. Due to the charging times, we recommend drives that are no longer than 400 km (260 miles) a day when travelling around New Zealand. Otherwise, you’ll find that “charging time” will eat most of your day away.

We recommend that you slow-charge by connecting your vehicle to a normal mains power outlet each night at your chosen accommodation. Many accommodations in New Zealand are happy to facilitate this.

How Much Does EV Charging Cost in New Zealand?

EV charging stations in New Zealand cost approximately NZ$5-$10 per 100 km (62 miles). In other words, that’s how much it costs to charge an electric car at a public EV charging station. However, there are many free charging stations listed on the PlugShare app. However, you may need your own fast-charging cables for some of them.

Carbon Emissions and Fuel Costs Saved by Driving an EV in New Zealand

Of course, the reason any traveller wants to hire an EV in New Zealand is to reduce their carbon footprint, in turn, their environmental impact.

How Much Carbon is Saved by Driving an EV?

A 100km (62 miles) drive in a mid-range petrol car produces about 0.034 tonnes of CO2. A road trip driving directly from Auckland to Queenstown is 1,548 km (962 miles), therefore you would produce 0.530 tonnes of CO2. However, a common two-week road trip of the North Island and South Island is more likely going to take you approximately 2,420 km (1,504 miles), producing 0.828 tonnes of CO2. For context, you would need about 45 trees to grow for an entire year to offset that amount of CO2.

For more ways to travel sustainably, head to our 31 Ways to Travel More Sustainably in New Zealand .

How Much Do You Save on Fuel Costs by Renting an Electric Car in New Zealand?

As for fuel costs, say it costs as much as NZ$10 to charge an EV per 100 km (62 miles) – a very high estimation considering you’ll be able to charge for free overnight at some accommodations, that will be NZ$242 for a 2,420 km (1,504-mile) trip around New Zealand. In comparison, the average petrol car consumes 7.6l per 100km (62 miles). With petrol prices at NZ$2 per litre and climbing, it will cost a minimum of NZ$368 to drive the same distance.

For more tips on budgeting tips for your road trip in New Zealand, check out  The Cost of Renting a Car or Campervan in New Zealand and  NZ Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to New Zealand Cost?

More About How to Travel Around New Zealand in an Electric Car

That’s it for our guide on how to hire an electric car in New Zealand, as well as all our tips for EV rentals in New Zealand. But, of course, we have more advice which you’re free to check out at the following:

What is the Best Type of Car to Rent in New Zealand?

• New Zealand Rental Car Insurance : Explained!
• 21 Ways to Save Money on Car Rental in New Zealand

Do you need some road trip ideas? Check out the following itineraries for the best road trip routes:

• North Island in One Week : Road Trip Itinerary
• South Island in One Week : Road Trip Itinerary
• North Island in Two Weeks : Road Trip Itinerary
• South Island in Two Weeks : Road Trip Itinerary
• New Zealand in Two Weeks : Road Trip Itinerary
• New Zealand in Three Weeks : Road Trip Itinerary
• New Zealand in a Month : Road Trip Itinerary

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in  The Guide to Renting a Car in New Zealand .

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
• New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
• New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
• Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
• Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
• DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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Electric Vehicle Trip Planner

Plan your next electric vehicle road trip and choose from more than 30,000 charging stations in Roadtrippers.

Select the Auto & RV Services category.

Click Filters and then select EV Charging.

Start planning your trip.

Choose a destination and then add charging stations along with your favorite road trip stops.

Start planning your trip

Classic American Road Trips

Explore the country in your electric vehicle. Here’s some of our favorite trips. Save them to your profile and start adding charging stations along your route.

A Highway 1 road trip along California’s Central Coast

The top things to do on a Route 66 road trip

The top things to do on an East Coast road trip

The top things to do on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip

Get ready to hit the road.

Can you take a road trip in an electric vehicle?

Road trip tips: How to prepare for the road with snacks, apps, and entertainment

How to plan a road trip: 5 steps to get you ready to hit the road

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Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app.

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Electric Vehicle Trip Planner

Easily find all the EV charging stations available along your route in North America.

To learn more about the different types of charging stations and how to charge before planning your trip, check out our guide on   ”How To Charge Your Electric Car With Charging Stations ” .

How To Use The EV Trip Planner?

To access the trip planner from the ChargeHub website, click on “Map”, in the top left corner of the navigation bar.

Once you are on the map page, you can open the trip planner panel by clicking the “Trip Planner” tab on the left side of the charging stations map page.

To enable the planner, click on the “OFF/ON” button so that it is "ON" . Note that at this point, you will have the option to select the unit of measurement by clicking on "KM" .

Once enabled the Trip Planner right sidebar will be displayed.

Enter Your Trip Details

Enter a “ Starting Point” and “ Destination” in the trip planner. It will suggest options based on what you input. Select the option you want, as shown in the following screenshot.

Now you have the option to choose how far away from your route you want the charging stations to be. Then click on "Find Routes". 

After clicking on “Find Routes” you will be asked to choose which route you prefer from the proposed routes as seen below, on the right panel of the Trip Planner :

Once you select a route, click on "Start Planning My Trip" and start adding charging stations to your itinerary, as explained in the following section "Add Charging Stops to your Itinerary".

Add Charging Stops to your Itinerary

At this point, you can add charging stations to your trip by zooming in on the map and clicking on map markers.

If you are planning to use the ChargeHub App to activate the station and pay , please make sure to select charging stations that have a golden thunderbolt in the center, as seen in the image below.

Only the charging stations that have a golden thunderbolt in the center are compatible with ChargeHub’s wallet app. You can pay for your charging sessions , across all available networks, at these charging stations, from within the app.

Once you have selected a charging station, all the information regarding the station will be displayed, on the right side of the screen.

Based on your EV and charging preferences, you can decide if the charging station meets your needs. If it does, add it to your trip by clicking "Add to trip".

NOTE: If you click on “See Complete Details” you will exit the trip planner and it will reset. In this case, you will need to start the whole Trip Planner process again from step one.

Once the charging station has been selected, it will be added to your trip as shown below.

If you need to add more charging stations, select and add as many as you need, by following the same process.

Save And Share Your EV Trip

Once you have finalized your itinerary you can: 

• Save your trip in your account for future reference
• Access your saved trips.

NOTE: To save and load a trip, you must be logged in to your  ChargeHub account.

Check out our other guides and resources on home charging

• A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Cars
• How to choose your charging station
• Top 9 most popular charging stations in 2024
• Incentives available in Canada for EV chargers
• Find the best EVSE solution according to your EV or PHEV

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