JENNY KEOWN
As motorists face high petrol costs a Christchurch-based start-up thinks it’s timely to launch the country’s first converted electric car business.
Mike Evans, based in Rolleston, is the director of Voltmotive that sells electrically converted cars and converts people’s petrol cars.
Voltmotive has listed its first converted electric car for sale on online classifieds site Trade Me which has generated huge interest.
By midday yesterday 42,700 people had viewed the 1991 Honda Civic converted electric car, with an asking price of $32, 000.
The public’s interest in electric vehicles (EVs) as a cheaper, viable alternative to petrol-fuelled cars is growing in New Zealand and worldwide, as petrol prices rise along with people’s awareness about environmental threats, said Evans.
The Government has removed road-user charges temporarily to reduce barriers for the uptake of electric vehicles.
This week Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright said the country needed to get a smart meter network running in preparation for the arrival of plug-in electric cars.
Evans, a retired US Navy officer of 25 years, said there was nothing stopping New Zealanders from using an electric vehicle, except the “misconception in their heads” about the technology.
People baulk at EV’s upfront cost, said Evans, but they should realise they are effectively locking in payment of their fuel for the next ten to twenty years.
“When you consider the whole life costs of a petrol car, what you will find is you will never reach cost neutrality, because you need to constantly buy fossil fuel which is becoming more expensive”
Maintenance costs for petrol cars also rise considerably as they age.
The electric motor has only one moving part and requires little maintenance over its lifespan which could be 800,000 km, compared to 250,000 for an internal combustion motor, he said.
Also, an EV only costs about $400 or $500 per year to fuel.
Evans said people also think EVs are slow and have a limited travelling range.
But kiwis travel an average 38km a day, he said, and EVs have a range of about 160km, so would be suitable for commuters.
Normally an EV could be charged at night when everyone is sleeping and not using much electricity. The average EV uses about the same amount of electricity as a toaster or hair dryer when it is charging, said Evans.
Nissan’s managing director John Maley said its mass-produced electric vehicle called the Nissan Leaf would go on sale in January in New Zealand.
Maley declined to comment how much it would cost but it’s on sale in the US for US$37,000 (NZ$44,000).
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has said he wanted the city to be the first in New Zealand with an integrated network for electric cars, and that the Leaf fits in well with the city’s sustainability programme.
Last month, Mitsubishi launched its five-door hatchback electric car, the iMiEV, for $59,999. The car is able to reach a top speed of 130kmph with up to 150km of range from a single change, enough to cover daily trips around town.
– BusinessDay.co.nz
No matter the fuel source government and big business will work together to ensure you pay top dollar for it.
RE: M #52
Seriously do you think you’re the only person who has thought of the fact that it would be placing the problem elsewhere? Difference is that the source of electricity COULD be renewable einstein.
Pay a fortune, enjoy your whopping 150km range and your 11 hour charge time. What a joke. Whats even more a laugh is that people think they are saving the planet as its green, ha. Do you know what a battery is made from and how much energy it takes to create one and that it will only last 5 years and then you will need another? Do you know that its an extremely inefficient energy storage device and that the electric has to be generated somewhere as it doesn’t just appear out of the mains socket by magic.
Ed Harvey #49
There’s “making a change,” and there’s “trying to sell a 20 year old Honda Civic for $32000.”
The ones “making a change” are the car and battery companies who are spending billions in RD into making EVs a viable alternative to conventional vehicles. There is a long-term future in this, and I don’t doubt that they will get there one day.
Converting 20 year old hatchbacks in the back yard has no long-term future and no mass market appeal. It will contribute nothing to the movement towards EVs. It is simply a waste of time and money.
I shall continue to make fun of the latter and support the former.
What about insurance. If I brought it for $32,000 and went to insure it my insurance company says they will cover replacement value for the make model and year of the vehicle and should it be stolen or written off they will reimburse me current market value which is about $4,000 tops. Whoever buys it better check with their insurers to see what they would get as ‘replacement’ value or they could find they are out of pocket by a huge amount.
Cool concept, but not new. Maybe Mike should offer his expertise to electrify their new BMW fleet they are buying to see if the govt thinks it is a viable option.
Well Ivor #48, all I can say to that is the people that sit round making fun of other people trying to make a change, usually aren’t up to much themselves..
Ed Harvey #40
That’s all well and good, but the fact is that very few people will switch to electric unless it gives them either the same or better performance (in terms of range etc) than they have now with conventional vehicles. The range is the killer at this stage. It means that these vehicles can only ever be second cars. For a single car family, even if they do a tiny number of 150km trips each year, they are a non-starter.
I’m sure the day will come when we are all running around in EVs, but it’s going to require a technology step change. In the meantime, it’s perfectly acceptable to make fun of someone trying to sell a 20 year old Honda Civic for $32000.
Check this link out: a guy in New Plymouth converted a car a few years ago: http://www.kiwiev.com/
make a submission to the central city plan to require electric vehicle charging points for all new buildings, not just new public parking spaces. There is such a requirement in the London Plan. Nick Smith apparently has an electric car, I hope you’ve approached him for assistance with improving infrastructure for electric vehicles and assisting your business.
Good one. Now for those living in places such as Wellington how about a roof mounted wind turbine so the battery can be recharged whilst the vehicle is parked. Might have to be designed so as to fold down when vehicle is driven. I have read of solar powered electric cars in Australia, but I don’t think they would work nearly as well over here. However, can’t rule anything out these days.