09 JUL 2025
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been a hot topic in recent years, sparking conversations about sustainability, cost and practicality. With over 82,500 EVs and 37,300 plug-in hybrids roaming around New Zealand, the question on everybody’s lips is: are EVs really worth it?
Whether you’re looking for a new car or considering greener options, buying an EV is an investment worth doing your research for. Let’s get into what you might want to think about before hitting ‘buy’ on that EV.
EVs are a type of vehicle that runs solely on electricity with rechargeable batteries (battery electric vehicle or BEV). Other variations include hybrid EVs (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEV), powered by both an electric motor and petrol engine. While EVs offer lower operating costs, environmental benefits, and fast acceleration, they can also face limited range, constrained charging infrastructure and high up-front costs.
The decision to acquire an EV is not an easy one. To help you decide if EVs are worth it, we’re here to debunk some common myths about them.
1. EVs are less environmentally friendly than petrol cars
In New Zealand, EVs emit 90% less CO2 than petrol vehicles, thanks to our highly renewable electricity grid. However, the environmental benefits of EVs vary across countries depending on how the electricity is generated. For example, the USA's mix of fossil fuels and renewable energy results in higher EV emissions. This highlights New Zealand's advantage in renewable energy, making EVs a more environmentally conscious choice here.
While EVs emit less than petrol cars, their lifetime emissions, including the impact of lithium mining, are a concern. Researchers and activists are pushing for more ethical and sustainable practices in lithium mining, and alternatives to lithium-ion batteries are being developed in the meantime.
Even with the extra emissions from manufacturing EV batteries, the total impact of an EV on the climate is typically less than that of a petrol car.
Fun fact: Around 90% of an EV battery can be repurposed at the end of its life into more batteries or battery storage!
2. EVs cost the same to run as petrol cars
Here is where EV owners will win out every time. Charging an EV costs the equivalent of around $1.60 per litre to ‘fill up’ when charged at home during off-peak hours, including road user charges.
Besides, being powered by electricity means you have control over when and how you charge your vehicle. Off-peak electricity rates, smart chargers, and programs like our EV Flex Pilot Trial are a few ways that could lower this cost further. We even have Good Charge, an electricity plan tailored to EV owners that offers half price power every night between 9pm and 7am*, perfect for overnight EV charging.
With fewer parts and no need for oil, the main consideration is replacing the battery. EV batteries last around 10-20 years before they deteriorate past the point of useful range. Be sure to check with the manufacturer about battery lifetime and guarantees.
Use this vehicle comparison calculator from Gen Less to compare the costs and emissions of buying and running a new EV with hybrid, petrol or diesel alternatives.
3. The grid can’t handle lots of EVs
In short – it totally can. In New Zealand, most EV owners charge their vehicles overnight when demand for electricity is at its lowest, and EECA (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority) reckons that if all the cars in the country (that’s over 4.5 million cars) converted to EVs, demand for electricity would only jump 20%.
Contact is doing its part with our EV Flex pilot. By connecting your EV to a grid, our formula works to set a schedule that optimises all the EV charging schedules to boot up when there is lower energy demand across the country. This makes sure that the electricity used is more likely to come from renewable sources, will take load off the national electricity grid, and could even lower your power bill.
4. EVs cost too much to buy
The up-front cost of an EV is often higher than petrol cars, however, this gap is narrowing as more affordable models and improved technology emerge.
New Zealand banks such as Westpac, BNZ, and ASB offer EV loan programs, designed to help finance lower emission purchases including solar panels, EVs, and efficient home heating systems. If you’re not looking to buy a new EV, there is a thriving second-hand market on platforms like Trade Me, Facebook Marketplace, and used car dealerships.
Additionally, there is increasing variety of EV models available, from SUVs to small hatchbacks, catering to a range of price points and preferences.
Remember: only consider purchasing an EV if you are needing to purchase a car. Ask yourself if your current car in good condition - if yes, there may be no need to make the change just yet.
5. They aren’t big enough for my needs
Luckily, the Nissan Leaf and various Tesla models aren’t the only EV models available on the market.
If you have a family to drive around or need a larger vehicle, models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Skoda Elroq, and BYD Atto 3 are great options.
The classic Nissan Leaf is a great option for a smaller car alongside models like the Volkswagen Golf GTE, BMW i3, MG4, Kia Niro, and the BYD Dolphin.
Nearly every car company now manufactures an EV model, so you won’t be short of choices. SUVs, hatchbacks, sedans, trucks - you name it, there is an EV version out there.
6. There aren’t enough charging ports around
We understand – it wouldn’t be fun to road tripping, look down at your dashboard, and see the dreaded ‘low battery’ status.
Luckily, the number of charging ports becoming available is increasing at a steady rate in New Zealand. Recent changes to national policy include simpler and faster consenting for the build of public EV chargers. This is part of a broader effort to speed up the rollout of EV charging infrastructure to reach the goal of 10,000 public chargers by 2030.
You can find free public charging ports at most supermarkets, public car parks, petrol stations. There are also paid charging stations conveniently placed around every 75km on the national highway network.
Here are a few useful apps and websites:
Switching to an EV is a big decision that requires a combination of research and an understanding about your own driving habits, needs and budget.
At Contact we are passionate about EVs, and their smaller environmental impact and lower operating costs compared to petrol and diesel cars. There are a range of price points and sizes, and public charging stations are becoming increasingly available nationwide.
However, it is essential to consider the costs of buying, running and maintaining an EV, and most importantly, if you really need a new car yet. While the upfront cost is higher, the long-term savings are almost too good to be true. With continuous advancements, the hurdles to EV adoption will soon be a thing of the past.
* Conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Half price power applies to variable electricity usage rate compared to day rate. Excludes daily charge and non-electricity usage charges.
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