The case for energy loans: read our latest explainer
Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson explains the significant reduction in lifetime costs from buying an EV compared to signing up for an expensive and unpredictable petrol or diesel subscription.
All those New Zealanders filling up their cars with fuel for summer roadtrips would have seen some pretty big numbers at the pump. And those numbers are set to get even bigger because the price of petrol is set to go above $3 a litre.
If history is any guide, these price increases are likely to keep happening. If you want to save some money, it's not going to make much difference shopping around for small discounts at different petrol stations. That's a bit like trying to lose weight and suggesting you only eat nine burgers a day instead of ten.
What will make a difference is shopping around for a vehicle that uses a cheaper energy source: electricity.
Using a petrol price equivalent, EVs cost around 30c a litre to charge at home using rooftop solar, or 60c a litre using electricity from the grid. Maintenance costs are also much lower.
While the price of petrol keeps going up, the price of EVs continues to fall, which makes the economic equation even better.
As Drive Electric's Kirsten Corson says, there's never been a better time to buy an EV.
Rewiring Aotearoa is in favour of universal Road User Charges as we believe it will address an artificial market distortion for vehicles that is not in New Zealand’s economic, fuel security, or resilience interests. Here's what we told the Select Committee.
Read moreDownloadThe story of Uruguay's renewable push and why it's relevant here; EVs reach a tipping point in the EU, but they're growing in developing nations, too; Tauranga Crossing and Endless Energy go vertical with a new solar install; new research shows panels keep on trucking far past their warranty periods; and if you need a hand getting out on the waves, how about getting your own electric towing machine.
Read moreDownloadOur Political Power series aims to show that going electric is good for everyone, no matter where you sit on the political sprectrum. Whether you're looking to lower costs, reduce emissions or increase resilience, it increasingly makes sense at an individual, community and country level and ACT's Todd Stephenson, who bought an electric Jeep around one year ago and built his new home in Queenstown to run on electrons, is a good example of that.
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