Out of gas

The barriers to electric vehicle uptake in NZ go further than range anxiety. 

- PETER GRIFFIN

I had the rare pleasure of riding in a couple of electric cars over the holidays, a BYD Atto 3, and a Tesla Model 3. I love the futuristic feel of these cars, the minimalist dashboard and hi-tech displays. They appeal to the techie in me. The quiet whir of the electric motors just adds to the effect. But, despite the blitz of advertising in 2023, I resisted the urge to buy an EV.

It didn't make economic sense, despite the lure of the clean car rebate which until the incoming government axed it on December 31 - promised a discount of up to $8000 on the EV models I was eyeing up. I've got a perfectly good 2016 petrolpowered Nissan that I'd get very little for on the second-hand market and which I'll probably drive until it dies.

Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis are in the same boat, wedded to petrol for many years to come but feeling very self-conscious about it, and resentful every time we approach a petrol pump.