What’s the difference between Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and BEV?

Hybrid vehicles use the combination of electric and traditional petrol or diesel motors to drive the wheels. This is nothing new, as demonstrated by the millions of Priuses on the road. A traditional hybrid is not classified as an electric vehicle though, as you don’t plug it in to charge the battery.

The more recent evolution is Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) tech. PHEVs can drive exclusively on electric energy, or the internal combustion engine seamlessly. Because most commutes are only approximately 30km/h a day, if you plug in to charge regularly, you can use predominately electric power and use fuel only when you need to. PHEVs are a great first step into electric vehicles, especially if you are concerned about range.

A full electric, or Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), only uses electricity to motivate it. You plug it in, either at home or at a public charging facility, and it allows you to travel about emitting absolutely zero carbon emissions.

How far can I go before I need to charge?

By far, the biggest fear of transitioning to an electric vehicle is the range available between charges. Like every vehicle, this varies from model to model and will be influenced by your specific driving conditions and style. There are plenty of new EV models that deliver quoted real-world ranges from 320km to over 400km before they require the battery to be recharged.

Do the batteries degrade?

All batteries experience degradation over time, and EV batteries are no different. But the rate of degradation is most likely much less than many people expect. There are many 10-year-old Nissan LEAFs on our roads, for example. Yes, many may have experienced some loss of battery life in those 10 years of service, but they are still capable of delivering 200km of range.

And with time come advances in battery technology. Many manufacturers offer a 7–10-year warranty on their EV battery, so you can buy with confidence knowing you’ll have many good years’ service from the battery.

Taking care to not drain the battery completely flat or charging it to completely full every time should also extend the battery’s life.

Do I need to add anything to my house?

The short answer is no. With the appropriate hardware supplied, you can charge an electric vehicle from a standard 3 pin, 10-amp plug.

For modern, high-capacity electric vehicles though, this is a relatively slow method of keeping your car battery topped up. Therefore, you might want to consider an upgraded intelligent wall charger, which can be installed cost effectively by a registered electrician.

These offer integrated app controls with your phone, optimise your charging time during off peak times to minimise your electricity bill and you can get higher output or three phase solutions that will charge your car more rapidly. Many EVs, such as Audi’s e-Tron, can also intelligently automate and monitor some charging functions

If I do want to travel long distance, how does that work?

Travelling more than the EV’s quoted range in a single journey is possible with the aid of our growing public charging infrastructure. While there are some free charging stations, you’ll want to make sure you can also leverage the hundreds of low cost, rapid charge stations spread up and down the country.

Creating an account is simple and you use the charging stations in much the same way you do a fuel bowser at a service station. Payment is linked to a credit card, and you ‘unlock’ the charging machine either via your phone or with an RFID key ring.

Charging the battery to around 80% full typically takes 30 minutes, but more vehicles available on the market are capable of high-speed charging (models like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-Tron GT for example) meaning that both the batteries and how we charge them are advancing as EVs become more common.

New Zealand already has a small but growing selection of high-speed chargers on state highways. These can charge suitable vehicles to 80% in as quickly as 15 minutes.

What does regenerative braking mean?

Regenerative braking effectively turns the EV’s motors into generators, harnessing the vehicle’s kinetic energy down hills or when braking in order to generate power. This power can then replenish power in the vehicle’s main battery.

In addition to adding to your battery energy, this has a dramatic effect on the vehicle’s momentum and aids in slowing the vehicle down. As you become more familiar with EV driving, you’ll understand how you can leverage regenerative braking to increase your range and recover energy that would otherwise just be converted to heat at the braking surfaces.

Do EVs cost a lot to service?

This is one of the bigger benefits of an EV. The drivetrain components require much less maintenance, the electric motor has very few moving parts and because regenerative braking reduces friction on your brakes, these tend to last longer also.

Service items like pollen filters, tyres and suspension require maintenance at the same intervals as any internal combustion vehicle. But overall EV service costs are attractively reduced over the life of the vehicle. 

Can you explain the Government’s Clean Car Discount?

From 1 April 2022, the Clean Car Discount will consist of rebates and fees for new and used eligible vehicles the first time they are registered in New Zealand, based on CO₂ emissions.

The higher the CO₂ emissions, the greater the fee in recognition of the increased environmental impact and economic cost the vehicle represents.

Buyers choosing zero or low-emission vehicles may be eligible for a rebate. The lower the emissions, the greater the rebate. A brand new zero emission vehicle is eligible for a $8,625 ($7,500+GST)* rebate.