In the News
Electric Vehicles (EV) are on the mind of New Zealanders at the moment.
Thursday, 21 September 2023

The topic been widely discussed in the media of late with proposed changes to current legislation being mooted by National.

Interestingly, 53% of New Zealanders say they would consider purchasing an EV in the future, with electric vehicle ownership to surpass conventionally powered vehicle ownership in New Zealand as soon as 2035.

These results are from a consumer survey recently commissioned by the BMW Group. The survey, conducted with more than 1,000 New Zealand adults who hold a valid driver’s licence, found that while 70 per cent believe they will own a conventionally powered vehicle in 2025, just 11 per cent said they would do so in 2040.

Key findings from the survey include:

  • Future Purchases: 57 per cent believe that EVs are the way of the future. The research suggests electric vehicle ownership may surpass conventionally powered vehicle ownership in New Zealand as soon as 2035.
  • Changing Perceptions: Around one in 10 (9%) already drive an electric or hybrid vehicle, with 61 per cent agreeing that those who purchase EVs are ‘early adopters’.
  • Government Initiatives: In addition to widespread awareness of government initiatives, the Clean Car Discount is most likely (61%) to encourage those aged 25-34 to purchase an EV.
  • Range Anxiety a Concern: 73 per cent of New Zealanders said they were concerned about running out of charge due to a lack of nearby charging infrastructure. Nearly half (47%) of those who regularly drive an EV agreed, despite more than two-thirds (36%) claiming they only required 30km of less mileage for their daily driving.
  • Awareness of Charging Infrastructure: Nearly one in two (46%) New Zealanders knew the location of the nearest charging station to their home, and 27% to their workplace.
  • Other Barriers to Adoption: The price of electric vehicles emerged as the primary reason for rejecting their purchase. A lack of knowledge (22%) about EVs also played a significant role in their decision-making process. This trend decreased with age.  Those between 18-24 (50%) were most likely to claim this; 55-64 (15%) were least likely.