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Anyone considering an electric car needs to use this buyer’s checklist

Home » Anne Kennedy » Anyone considering an electric car needs to use this buyer’s checklist

7 July 2021

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Are you considering making the switch to an electric car? These key questions will help you make the right decision for you and your family.

Is an EV right for me?

An EV is a great solution for many Kiwis’ everyday needs.

90 percent of our car trips are shorter than 90km. Average daily car travel is around 30km. Try tracking your driving – you may be surprised to find that an EV would be perfect for your needs. This is especially true if you are often stuck in traffic – an EV almost makes traffic worthwhile, because regenerative braking recaptures and stores energy every time you slow down, and you use no energy when stationary. And while a BEV (battery electric vehicle) may not be right for you if you regularly drive beyond the battery range, a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) may be just what you need.

EV buyer’s checklist:

  • Check the battery size. This is in kilowatt hours (kWh) and indicates how much electricity the battery can store when new, and therefore how far it can drive on a charge.
  • Check the warranty for the EV battery.
  • What charger inlets does the vehicle have? (Be aware not all vehicles can use fast charging stations.)
  • What charging equipment is supplied, such as portable charging cables and/or supply leads. These must comply with New Zealand electrical safety standards.
  • Check the safety and fuel economy of different cars at rightcar.govt.nz. You can compare the running costs with petrol or diesel cars. See if the EV has the latest software updates installed.

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