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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.
Fringe Benefit Tax changes make EVs better more appealing by up to $7k a year; NZ Post, Kaibosh and HEB Construction and many others aren't waiting for rule changes to go electric; the share of EVs keeps growing around the world; lots more marae are 'doing a Maui' and catching the sun; a native nursery near Nelson goes electric and heats things up in a very clever way; and is petrol or electric better when you're chopping down trees?
Read moreDownloadOver 100 people turned up to a meeting in Taranaki this week to voice their opposition to the proposed LNG import terminal. And whether it was cost, emissions or safety, there were a range of concerns raised, as RNZ reported. As we have said from the start - and as a big research project that's set to be released soon confirms - there are cheaper, better ways to solve the dry year issue and LNG is too expensive to be seen as a solution to our diminishing domestic gas reserves.
Read moreDownloadNew Zealand-made energy running through electric machines is a vision more New Zealanders are getting behind because it saves us all money, reduces emissions and increases our national security. But this Budget certainly won’t get us there. It’s like everyone wants to play open running rugby, but the forwards keep knocking it on.
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