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• There are plenty of reasons to love EVs - from lower costs to faster take-offs. Here are a few of them.
• And check out 'This Car Can ...' to see how much others EV owners love their cars.

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The EV buyer's checklist:

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1. Know Your Driving Needs

• Work out your average daily and weekly kilometres (the average daily commute in New Zealand is around 40km). 
• Count how many times a year you drive more than 150–200km in a day.
• Can you charge at home? If so, that’s where most of the charging will be done - and it’s the cheapest way to charge, especially off-peak. 
• Check public charging availability on your regular long-distance routes using Plugshare.
• Can you charge at your work place or other regular destinations, if you need to?

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2. Choosing the Right Battery Size

• Match battery size to your actual driving needs - don't over-buy range you won't use daily if you want to keep your costs down.
• Remember that home charging means you can start every day with a full battery.

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3. New vs Used

• Decide whether a new or used EV suits your budget and priorities best.
• For new: check battery warranty terms (typically 8 years or 160,000km).
• For used: get the State of Health (SOH) of the battery - generally aim for 85% or above. Remember a larger battery has a greater capacity -  85% of a 64Kwh battery will give you more range than 85% of a 40kWh battery.
• For used: check how much battery warranty remains. But remember, many of these EVs are lasting well beyond their warranties, with some even clocking up over 400,00kms. 

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4. Charging 

• You can slow (trickle) charge using your regular wall socket and a portable cable (adds about 10-15km of range an hour).
• You can install a home EV charger (about 3 x faster than a slow charge) if you travel longer distances more regularly and you have the budget (indicative cost between $1,500–$2,500 installed). If you’re thinking ahead for when EVs can plug in to power your home, consider a more expensive two-way charger. 
• Download the ChargeNet app and set up an account before your first long trip.
• Check what other charging networks are relevant to your regular routes and download their apps (BP Pulse, Z Energy, Meridian Zero).
• Bookmark Plugshare for finding chargers on the go.

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5. Costs

• Use the EECA Total Cost of Ownership calculator to compare your shortlisted EV against a petrol equivalent.
• Factor in lower servicing costs - no oil changes, timing belts, and brakes last longer.

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6. Financing

• Check whether you qualify for a green home loan top-up through your bank (rates as low as 0–1%).
• If you don't own a home or have a mortgage, compare dedicated EV loans.
• Avoid standard personal loans if possible as rates are significantly higher.
• Check out Money Hub EV loan comparison.

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Useful Resources

• EVDB.nz — compare new and used EVs side by side, with real-world range and pricing
• EECA (eeca.govt.nz) — impartial government information and a Total Cost of Ownership calculator
• EVRoam (evroam.co.nz) — live map of all public chargers in New Zealand
• ChargeNet (chargenet.nz) — New Zealand's largest fast charging network; download the app before your first long trip
• PlugShare (https://www.plugshare.com/map/new-zealand) — crowd-sourced charger reviews, useful for trip planning
• Drive Electric (driveelectric.org.nz) — EV buying guide
• NZ EV Facebook groups — real owner experiences, model-specific advice, and SOH check recommendations
• Money Hub - Independent money guidance 
• ‍Consumer NZ (consumer.org.nz) - EV buying guide