Last month, the first all-electric car went on sale in New Zealand. With a hefty price tag of just under $60,000, sales are expected to be modest at first. But industry watchers predict electric vehicles are the way of the future, with up to 390,000 of them on our roads within 15 years. Energy reporter Allison Rudd investigates.
But there was a time when they were an unwieldy, expensive novelty.
The first commercial mobile phone, released by Motorola in 1983, boasted one hour of talk time and cost $US3995.
The cellphones available in this country from the late 1980s were equally bulky and costly. But just as technology advances and price reductions brought cellphones within the reach of average New Zealanders, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority transport partner manager Elizabeth Yeaman predicts a similar path for electric cars.
Last month, Mitsubishi released its i-MiEV, a small four-seater saloon with a range of about 150km before it needs recharging, and a price tag of $59,990. It is the first purpose-built electric car on the local market, although Hyundai's all-electric retrofitted Getz has been available since 2009.
Nissan's all-electric Leaf will enter the New Zealand market later this year or early next year. It is larger than the i-MiEV and sells in Australia for $A50,000 - about $NZ63,000.
While price will initially be a barrier, Ms Yeaman expects technological advances to come quickly and prices to decline rapidly.
"Look at cellphones. They were like bricks when they first came out and now they are slim and in every pocket."
Research carried out last year by the New Zealand Centre for Advanced Engineering shows "high-level uptake" of electric cars could see 390,000 of them on the roads within 15 years.
Of course, that is something Ms Yeaman supports.
"We are very enthusiastic about electric cars. We think they have huge potential for New Zealand. They are hugely more efficient than petrol or diesel vehicles and have zero carbon emissions, apart from the carbon created when electricity is produced. But 74% of NZ's electricity is generated from renewable sources such as hydro, wind and geothermal so, overall, the impact of electric cars is positive for the environment."
The centre's report said powering 390,000 electric vehicles would only require an additional 180MW of electricity - the output from two medium-sized wind farms - and could lead to a reduction in carbon emissions from vehicle exhausts of 44 million tonnes by 2040.
Electricity generation requirements would be less if, as expected, owners recharged their vehicles at night when demand from other users is less.
At present, most all-electric vehicles are small to medium-sized passenger vehicles designed for around-town running. About half the weight of an electric car is in the batteries, and the fewer the batteries, the less range the vehicle has.
But Eeca research shows electric cars will fit with most New Zealanders' travel patterns.
An estimated 90% of New Zealand vehicles travel less than 84km a day; for urban dwellers, the daily average is less than 69km. Little driving takes place at night, meaning overnight charging will be convenient.
Ms Yeaman also expects all-electric vans and light trucks to become popular, although no models are available in this country yet. There is an attraction for commercial operators, she says - there are no road user charges with electricity.
Perhaps the bottom line for would-be electric car owners is how the vehicles drive. Will they have the performance and handling of a conventionally-fuelled vehicle or the increasingly popular fuel-electric hybrids?
Ms Yeaman, who has driven one of the eight i-MiEVs trialled in Wellington over the past two years, says driving the car was "thoroughly enjoyable. There was no noise, and good torque and acceleration. It would be very easy to get used to."
Otago Daily Times motoring writer David Thomson, who tested the car in February, reported it accelerated, braked and handled well, and easily passed four slower vehicles heading up Saddle Hill.
The most disconcerting part, Mr Thomson said, was the quiet. Apart from wind and road noise, the engine is virtually silent. So silent Mr Thomson confessed he was unnerved enough while driving through Mosgiel at 50kmh that he turned the car radio on.
Electric vehicles
FOR
• Zippy and peppy; a top speed of about 130kmh and easily travel at 100kmh.
• Almost completely silent driving with no engine noise.
• Zero carbon emissions.
• Not reliant on imported oil or fuels.
• Cost about $4-$5 (at today's prices) to fully recharge batteries.
• Can be recharged using a 15 amp socket at home or at work.
• Easy to drive - there are only two pedals, an accelerator and a brake.
• Easy to maintain - no combustion engine, gearbox, clutch, spark plugs, oil, oil filters, or fuel tank.
AGAINST
• Only have a range of 150km-160km (not much further than Dunedin to Oamaru) before needing to be recharged.
• Full recharge takes 6-8 hours.
• You can't go to the nearest service station to recharge - the only New Zealand public recharging station is in Taupo.
• Cost two to three times more than a similar-sized new petrol or diesel vehicle.
