Spotted charging in Taupō, presumably testing.

Moving back to NZ from Australia and toying with the idea of an EV so I checked TradeMe…

Why the heck is my search for “Electric” engine chock full of Outlander PHEVs?? It isn’t like there’s not an option for that in the listing criteria.

Ok maybe it’s just TradeMe… I’ll try Autotrader. Worse - the Priuses and Aquas that come up in the search are LISTED as the H-word but Autotrader decided I wanted to see them anyway despite not searching for them.

Is there a site these days that’s actually worth searching on or do I have to scroll through dross to find something?

Thinking of purchasing the above vehicle. Yet to see the battery SOH - is there a minimum I should be looking for?

Generally, looking to replace an ICE that's becoming increasingly expensive to repair. Budget of $30K (could spring to 35k).

Mostly driving ~40km a day to/from work and gym. Take long road trips to Tauranga/Taupo/etc out of Auckland 2-3 times a year.

If not this vehicle, what would others suggest?

Edit: looking at a 64KWH vehicle

Looking at purchasing first ev… there is a lot to learn!
Atto3 is top contender
I keep hearing how the price of EVs is going to come down as the market gets flooded… is this likely to happen anytime soon? Any thoughts on how much cheaper an atto3 might become?

I want the most bang for my buck (cheapskate at heart)- looking at second hand.. any advice about how many km is too many ? 70? 100?

Tia!

As this seems to be the place to ask the question of "what should I buy", I'm going to jump on board and ask for advice.

My 2004 Honda Accord is on its last legs, so now's the time to start looking for a replacement.

So here comes the question: What do I buy next?

• It's got to be the "everything" vehicle. Drive about 50km round trip to work. Can easily charge in the driveway overnight.
• Would prefer something that can fast charge at a decent rate (>150kw) as I'm not a fan of adding 1+hr to trips when we take them.
• Ability to tow the occasional (handful of times a year) trailer up to 1200kg. I will be chucking roof racks on for the kayaks and because they're so damn handy to have.
• Road trips a few times a year.
• Prefer to not have a sedan as I get limited by boot space a lot. Lift back looks much better.
• RELIABLE. I don't to be shelling out thousands to replace modules etc due to failure. I've had to spend next to nothing on keeping the Accord on the road (which is probably pretty rare to have a car so reliable without replacing items)
• Budget: ideally no more than $50k

It's a toss up with a Rav4 Hybrid Adventure/XSE or jumping on the EV train.

Being that I spend 1+hrs in traffic every day, I really want to lean towards an EV as it's probably going to be just that much more comfortable to sit in for long periods.

I know a used Model Y would probably fit the bill perfectly, but personal choice reasons, I'd rather not support the owner of that company.

So far, I've narrowed it down to a used EV6 or a Ioniq 5, but both have their drawbacks; ICCU for both (altho warranty covered, still sounds like a headache), the EV6 and it's leaking AC or the Ioniq 5 with it's coolant change every 4 years @~$1400.

My main search has been on towing capacity, which leads to not many meeting my "requirement".
The XPeng L03 looks like it would pretty much fit the bill, would end up around $52k with towbar (standard range).

Any other ideas or suggestions?

I have been using a petrol Nissan Note and want to buy a used EV.

I can charge using the regular home charger for my local Auckland drives (100km) with rare 300–500km trips that can be managed with roadside chargers.

My budget is 30k, and I want something other than a Leaf.

Can you please share your thoughts? Thank yoh!

Hi all, i have a Tesla model 3 2019 performance.

It gets 440km on a full charge, very quick, but it has 147,000 KM on the clock. I drive maybe 700km a week as part of my work.

Im concerned now as the Battery warranty expired in August next year, so i dont know if i should keep it, or sell it privately for 28-30k and buy a new EV.

The problem is, I still owe $23,500 on the finance so im unsure what to do.

I saw a Jaecoo J5 EV for $41,000 which isnt too bad, but i dont know whats the best decision financially.

Any help is appreciated.

Canterbury Rural Police have arrested and charged a 26-year-old Christchurch man in relation to a series of alleged thefts targeting electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Christchurch.

Over recent weeks, Police have received numerous reports of EV charging cables being cut and stolen from charging stations across the district.

The offending has caused significant disruption to EV users and substantial costs to charging network providers through damage and replacement of infrastructure.

The 26-year-old is facing multiple charges, including five counts of theft over $2,000. He is due to appear in Christchurch District Court tomorrow.

Police continue to make enquiries into incidents across Christchurch.

Inspector Peter Cooper, Canterbury Rural Area Commander, says the offending has had a significant impact on both businesses and members of the public.

“The offending has caused significant disruption to EV users and substantial costs to charging network providers through damage and replacement of infrastructure.

“Police have been working closely with victims and industry partners to identify and locate those responsible to hold them to account.

“While an arrest has been made, our enquiries are ongoing and we are not ruling out further arrests.”

Police encourages anyone who has information about suspicious activity around EV charging stations, or may have information relating to stolen items, to please contact Police.

Anyone with information can contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

As the matter is before the courts, Police are unable to comment further.

Currently owning for transit 9-seater, but its only front wheel drive.

It feels like there are literally no options

- maybe kia ev9, but thats way smaller

- cherry tiggo 9, again smaller and not true ev

- upcoming kia evs, but those seem to only coming to nz as cargo vehicles

Hi team,

Have 30K, looking at going green and getting an EV.

Will be primarily used as my daily to work and home 29KM one way, half on suburban roads, half on the motorways (Auckland)

Road trips, usually a few times a year, but partner has a company vehicle so happy to use that - will also keep my ICE as a back up.

I’ve been floating the Leaf, or the Atto 1.

Any thoughts on one VS the other?

Cheers in advance!

Husband and I have been tracking our petrol spending and it's around $500 a month.

Basically it's just us driving around hamilton. Taking the kids places, going to work and back. We are in a position to get a hybrid or an ev with a budget of $40k max. If we could put that $500 that we are currently spending on petrol towards paying off the car each month, to me it's win win

Husband is leaning toward hybrid, im leaning toward EV for the day-to-day, we would still be relying on our petrol outlander for big trips. Im not sure how much ruc are, but i assume it will still work out alot cheaper. Any advice from current ev owners or hybrid owners?

I'm looking at buying another EV (I have an Atto 3, and love it so much!) For my partner.

Budget is around $10k, but the lower the better really.

Travel will be for a single person, perhaps 30km/day, smaller the better.

Charging at home on a 3 pin plug.

I've been looking at older Leafs, but I dont know what to look at in regards to SOH, or what a lot of the numbers mean they throw out there.

Is there a website or somewhere that explains it all, or can someone give me a quick rundown on what to look for?

How low SOH is ok?

What age do we say hell no?

What else to look for?

Any other good older ev's I should be looking at?

Thank you so much!

Finally in a position to buy 1st EV and been following the trailseeker for a while now.

What’s everyone’s opinion on it?

Hi all! We're thinking of getting a second hand leaf and were wondering if theres anything in the leaf spy report to watch for? Many thanks!

In the market for an EV but not in a rush yet. My company is trans Tasman and our fleet manager was telling us how there are now multiple discounts on EVs in Aus with the BYD atto 1 having a discount and lower pricing coming in for the Leapmotor BX as more entrants come in to the market. Do you think we will see that here? Only discounts I’ve seen is the GAC UT having a $4k discount of Price

The new BMW iX4 is the company's second electric "coupe SUV" after the iX2, and predictably shares a lot with the iX3 launched in New Zealand earlier this year.

It differs from the iX3 with its sleeker roofline, while it features prominent haunches for a more aggressive look.

Inside the cabin there's less headroom, but the major design points are unchanged. The dashboard continues to feature the Panoramic iDrive setup with a 43.3-inch customisable display spanning the width of the car at the base of the windscreen, and a 17.9-inch angled touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.

Measuring 4782mm long, 1895mm wide, 1595mm tall, and riding on a 2897mm wheelbase, the iX4 shares all of its key dimensions with the iX3 except height, with the iX4's roof being 40mm closer to the ground.

Thanks to its fastback-style rear, the iX4 has a drag coefficient of 0.23, an improvement on the more upright iX3's 0.24. This leads to improved range, but performance is essentially unchanged. 

The capacity of the boot has shrunk by 30L to 490L with the rear seats up. The more steeply raked hatch makes a bigger impact when the rear seats are folded down, with the iX4 down 150L to 1600L. The "frunk" under the bonnet is unchanged at 58L.

Local specs for the iX4 have yet to be confirmed, but they could echo those offered in Australia. There, it will be sold in either rear-wheel drive 40 trim at AU$80,900, in 40 xDrive spec at AU$103,900, or as a flagship 50 xDrive for AU$119,900.

The iX4 features a two-motor all-wheel drive system with a total output of 275kW and 520Nm, and has an 82.6kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery under the floor that supports AC charging up to 22kW and DC charging up to 300kW.

BMW claims it's good for a 638km driving range under the WLTP testing protocol, and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. 

The more powerful 50 xDrive features a 345kW/645Nm two-motor setup driving all four wheels.

Paired to a larger 108.7kWh NMC battery pack, the iX4 50 xDrive is said to have a WLTP driving range of 828km, an improvement of 23km over the less aerodynamic iX3. The larger battery ups the maximum DC charging rate to 400kW, while the more powerful motors cut the 0-100km/h time to 4.9s and raise the top speed to 210km/h.

An even more powerful M60 xDrive model will join the local range "later in 2027" with an M-tuned drivetrain and chassis, as well as the usual assortment of go-faster addenda. 

Both the 40 xDrive and 50 xDrive ride on 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 21- and 22-inch rims available at extra cost. 

Also standard is the controversial four-spoke steering wheel, M styling kit, adaptive M suspension, heated front and rear seats, panoramic sunroof, a Harman Kardon sound system, interior ambient lighting, and wireless smartphone charging.

A used Leaf and an Aqua now cost the same to run in NZ – $39 apart over 5 years

Data sourced from www.carspy.co.nz

EVs have been paying road user charges since April 2024, and plenty of people reckon that killed the savings. Now petrol has just hit a record $3.52/L.

So I did some maths to find out what it actually costs to run three common EV vs ICE matchups over 5 years (60,000 km).

Running costs only: fuel/power, RUC and rego. No insurance, servicing or depreciation.

Charging at home on a standard rate (30c/kWh)

What I found

Leaf vs Aqua is extremely close

Just $39 apart over 5 years.

The Leaf's $3,168 electricity bill is much lower than the Aqua's $8,026 petrol bill, but the $4,560 RUC bill eats almost all of that difference. EVs also pay $67 a year more in rego.

Where you charge makes a huge difference:

• 18c/kWh off-peak: Leaf saves $1,228
• 30c/kWh standard: Aqua saves $39
• 70c/kWh public fast charging: Aqua saves $4,263

Model 3 vs IS300h

The Model 3 saves $4,247 in running costs over 5 years at home.

However, the IS300h is about $14,760 cheaper to buy.

At roughly $850/year in running-cost savings, it would take about 17 years for the Model 3 to make up that purchase-price difference through running costs alone.

Even on public charging alone, the Model 3 still saves $839 in running costs because the Lexus uses 95.

Atto 3 vs ZR-V/HR-V

This is probably the fairest comparison because they're almost identical in purchase price:

• BYD Atto 3: $38,210
• Honda ZR-V/HR-V: $37,910

At home, the Atto 3 is $1,377 cheaper to run over 5 years.

On public fast charging, the ZR-V/HR-V wins by $2,367.

Petrol prices are what tip it

Petrol has gone from about $3.16/L at the end of August to a record $3.52/L now.

That's what has pushed these matchups to the edge.

Every 20c/L rise adds:

• $456 to the Aqua's 5-year cost
• $516 to the ZR-V's
• $624 to the IS300h's
• $0 to the EVs

The Atto 3 has been cheaper to run than the ZR-V since petrol passed $2.99/L.

The Model 3 beats the IS300h at anything over $2.39/L for 95.

In fairness, RUC can go up too.

Every $10 per 1,000 km increase in RUC adds $600 to each EV over 5 years — roughly equivalent to a 26c/L petrol price increase for the Aqua.

Is RUC fair on EVs?

Petrol cars pay fuel excise at the pump, currently about 77c/L.

That means how much fuel excise a petrol car pays depends on how much fuel it burns.

Here's what that looks like compared with the flat $76/1,000 km EV RUC rate:

An EV therefore pays more in RUC than almost every petrol car pays in fuel excise.

A petrol car needs to burn roughly 9.9 L/100km before it pays as much per km in fuel excise as a Leaf pays in RUC.

A few other ways of looking at it:

• A Leaf pays 2.6× as much RUC per km as an Aqua pays in fuel excise.
• If EVs paid the same per km as an Aqua, a Leaf owner would save another $2,804 over 5 years.
• A 1.6-tonne Leaf pays the same $76/1,000 km as a 2-tonne-plus diesel Ranger.
• Diesels pay the same flat $76 rate regardless of vehicle weight.

The usual argument for the flat EV rate is that EVs are heavier than equivalent petrol cars.

But for passenger cars, the weight difference has very little impact on road wear compared with heavy trucks.

What if RUC changed?

1. Cut RUC from $76 to $50 per 1,000 km

Every EV would save $1,560 over 5 years.

The effects would be significant:

• Leaf beats Aqua by $1,521 on standard-rate power.
• Leaf would pull ahead once petrol reaches just $2.85/L.
• For a Leaf owner, a $26 RUC cut is worth about the same as a 68c/L petrol price increase.
• Atto 3's lead over the ZR-V grows from $1,377 to $2,937.
• Model 3's lead over the IS300h grows to $5,807.

2. A weight-based RUC

Right now, a 1.6-tonne Leaf and a 3-tonne Land Cruiser pay exactly the same $76/1,000 km.

As an example, I modelled a weight-based rate where a Leaf pays $45/1,000 km and heavier cars pay proportionally more — roughly $28.50 per 1,000 kg per 1,000 km.

All three matchups swing clearly towards the EVs:

• Leaf beats Aqua by $1,821 on standard power.
• Leaf would pull ahead once petrol passes $2.72/L.
• Atto 3 beats ZR-V by $2,989.
• Model 3 beats IS300h by $5,858.
• A 3-tonne Land Cruiser would pay about $85/1,000 km, or $5,127 over 5 years.

Even at $45/1,000 km, a Leaf would still pay more per km than an Aqua ($29), Fit ($39) or IS300h ($40) pays in fuel excise.

One catch with weight-based charging is that road damage rises very steeply with axle weight, roughly to the fourth power.

Compared with trucks, the difference between a 1.5-tonne and 1.8-tonne passenger car is tiny, so a weight-based rate for cars would arguably be more about fairness than road wear.

Assumptions

• 12,000 km/year for 5 years
• Petrol: 91 at $3.52/L (Gaspy national average, 6 October); 95 at $3.75/L
• Electricity: 30c/kWh standard, 18c/kWh off-peak EV plan, 70c/kWh public fast charging
• RUC: $76/1,000 km
• Petrol fuel excise: 77c/L
• Rego: $248.83/year for EVs, $181.45/year for petrol
• Official economy figures:
  • Leaf: 17.6 kWh/100km
  • Model 3: 14.2 kWh/100km
  • Atto 3: 15.6 kWh/100km
  • Aqua: 3.8 L/100km
  • ZR-V: 4.3 L/100km
  • IS300h: 5.2 L/100km
• Typical price = median dealer asking price today

What do you actually pay per kilometre?

And what would petrol have to hit for you to switch?

Disclosure: the dealer prices come from CarSpy, a free site I built that collects NZ dealer listings.

The new Trailseeker EV is doing a national tour through the Subaru dealerships currently. Was only in town for 2 days to test out. Dealer says the first shipment is expected to arrive in January, a few have already been sold. They are unsure when demo models will arrive across the dealership network.

First impressions: It really is very nice. Externally it's giving more traditional Subaru vibes rather than the futuristic EV vibes that are common with other brands. Definitely won't turn heads the same way other EVs do, feels more stealth and like you blend in with other cars on the road.

The interior is very comfortable with all the features you would expect from a modern car. It is very much like the bz4x around the driver controls and infotainment as can be expected with the Toyota partnership. Feels very solid and well built from the drivers perspective. The extra ground clearance and higher seating position is nice to have.

The 10 speaker sound system with subwoofer is great in the Touring model, not sure what the base model will sound like with only 6 speakers.

The V2L 3-pin plug in the boot is a really cool feature of the Touring model that isn't available in the base model.

When in 'power' mode the car really goes. I didn't do a 0-100, more like a 20-110, and it feels amazing. The car handles really smoothly with the power and feels responsive and does what you ask of it.

There really wasn't anything I disliked from the test drive. The models are very similar with a $3.5k difference between them. For the base model, you get ~45km extra range at the cost of smaller wheels, less impressive sound system and no V2L + a few other things you don't have like driver seat and door mirror memory, glass roof and 'advanced park assist'. If V2L is important for you then the extra cost may be worth it.

Final thoughts: it really does fill a unique spot in the market with the ground clearance, range and speed. Definitely more practical for a lot of kiwis who want an EV they can take up the mountains and on road trips etc.

I'm not completely sold and rushing out to place my order, but so far the Trailseeker is a stronger contender for me than what else is out there currently.

So I've lost the key to my 2019 500e (that's a story for another time). Local auto locksmiths say they can cut/program a replacement for all 500s EXCEPT 500e. The closest dealership is 2 hours away. I found an online business that will cut/program a new key if I send them the Body Control Module (BCM).

Google AI is giving me directions for removing it but I'm wary because the cited sources are for non-EV 500s. Chat GPT is telling me to find "a removal guide or video specifically for this model, including battery-disconnection and airbag precautions." I've not been able to locate either.

Any help or suggestions are much appreciated!

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat? No pun intended...

Aug/Sep shipment to chch, ordered in June, specifically Atto 2. Anyone still waiting for their new car?

I was told ready late Sept but now they are not giving me a specific time frame anymore. Just telling me they have 200plus cars to process...

Keen to know if anyone got theirs yet?

:(