EV vs Petrol vehicles in NZ

Spoiler alert, there is no clear winner in the great electric vs petrol vehicle debate; it will come down to your individual needs and, to a larger extent, your personal preference.  

There are however, a few things to consider when deciding between buying a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric motor. These can include the environmental impact, cost, your driving habits, and, as mentioned your personal preference.

People who turn to electric vehicles often do it with an eye on their carbon footprint. For New Zealanders, this is a positive step when it comes to local air pollution; an electric car has zero tailpipe emissions which is better for the local environment and human health. Transport is a big contributor to our overall CO2 emissions, and air pollution can cause stroke, heart disease, pulmonary disease, lung cancer and pneumonia. 

EV production, or more specifically battery manufacture is a carbon intensive process. Making an EV is likely to produce more CO2 than an equivalent ICE vehicle. However, over the lifespan of a car, and in a country like NZ where most electricity is produced with renewables, the EV’s overall CO2 impact will be less than the ICE car. This will continue to produce tailpipe emissions every kilometre it travels. Even an efficient ICE vehicle, like the RAV4 hybrid will produce more than 18 tonnes of CO2 over its life (150,000km) and consume nearly 8000 litres of gas. And while battery manufacturing is CO2 intensive, so is drilling for oil and refining it and transporting it etc. 

EVs tend to be more expensive to buy than equivalent ICE powered vehicles. However, in recent times, the price of EVs has fallen and there are now points of price parity within some segments. 

In terms of energy costs, EVs are cheaper per kilometre if you charge at home (where more than 90 per cent of your charging takes place). With EVs now having to pay Road User Charges, this operating cost advantage has been eroded slightly, but EVs drivers need to pay their share of road maintenance too. 

It gets expensive when you have to charge your EV at a public DC charger however. Having the ability to charge at home is therefore rather crucial for an EV owner.

How many kilometres you drive each month could help determine whether an EV or ICE is better for you. If you do moderate mileage each day (under 50km) in and around the city, an EV will suit. Even if you are doing 150km a day, an EV will still fit the bill, provided you have access to home charging. However, for higher mileage users, you’ll want to install a charge box to enable faster AC charging at home. That will ensure the battery is recharged to 80 per cent each night, ready to go the next day. 

Those that do more highway miles, travelling further afield to places where charging isn’t practical, an efficient hybrid will be better. There are simply more gas stations about the place. Those that need to tow should still stick with an ICE machine, especially if you are towing over longer distances.