22 APR 2025

Costs to consider when buying an EV

When looking into the cost of an EV or any car, it’s important to consider both the initial cost of the vehicle and the long-term costs to run and maintain. Let’s take a look at some key considerations to get you moving.

Electric Car Prices

The price of an EV and the budget you have is the first thing you should consider before buying.

Cost To Charge An EV

Charging your EV can depend on the situation: Are you on the road and need a quick charge, or are you at home for the night?

Maintenance Costs

Like all things, EVs need to be maintained if they’re to stay in good shape for the long term.

The cost of an EV depends on the brand and type, so choose one that makes the most sense for your needs. Hybrid prices are generally on the lower range, with the average cost of a Kia Niro Hev LX starting at $40,990. Plug-in hybrids come at a slightly higher price with the Kia Niro Phev LX costing $55,990, with fully electric vehicles having the largest price tag $77,990 for the Kia Niro Bex EX. Check our chart below for some of the finer details on each type.

	Kia Niro BEV EX	Kia Niro PHEV LX	Kia Niro HEV LX	Kia Sportage LX Urban
Type of vehicle	Electric vehicle	Plug-in Hybrid	Hybrid	Petrol
Initial cost (RRP)	$77,990	$55,990	$40,990	$33,990
Cost per km (maintenance)	$0.31	$0.25	$0.23	$0.34
CO2 grams/km	0	31	97	205
Maximum range	455km	58km	n/a	n/a
Fuel economy	n/a	1.31 per 100km	3.81 per 100km	9.01 per 100km
5 year cost comparison*	$101,116	$79,384	$70,815	$98,740

_{*Prices as at 8 April, based on petrol prices of $2.75 per litre, Electricity 17c per kWh, travelling 20,000 km per year}

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Charging at home wall-mounted charger

An important action is to check what energy plan you're on. See if it suits the type of charger you have, and when you charge. Do you do it fast during the weekends, or slowly overnight. Feel free to check out out our EV energy plan Good Charge as a great starting point for discounted power.

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Charging on the road

The out of home charging network is constantly growing in New Zealand. There are a range of brands across the country like bp charge, ChargeNet, Zero and Tesla. Charges vary based on what one you use, if you’re part of an EV plan or subscription and charge point speed. Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority has some great insights into electrifying our roads.

EV maintenance costs are lower than those of non-electric vehicles since EVs have fewer moving parts (as few as four for BEVs).

If you're buying a second-hand EV you may need to factor in the cost to replace the battery.

So, is it worth it?

When looking into the cost of an EV or any car, it's important to consider not just the initial cost of the vehicle but how much it costs to run and maintain it. Once familiar with all costs, the next step is to get yourself familiar with the pros and cons of today's EVs.