Costs to consider when buying an EV

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 also the long-term costs to run and maintain.

 

Learn more about each of these costs before buying your dream EV.

So what should you consider?

Electric Car Prices

Icon of house with lightning bolt inside intended to represent charging at home

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

Cost To Charge An EV

Charge on the go

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

Charging at a station

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

How much does an EV cost?

The cost of an EV can range depending on the brand and type that makes the most sense for you. Hybrids 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 $39,990

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

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Charging on the road

ChargeNet has New Zealand's largest EV charging network. Charges vary based on charge point speed, all costs can be found here.

Charging at home

Owners of electric vehicles say they love plugging in their car at the end of the day instead of visiting a petrol station. You can get by with a standard power point, but you'll get faster charging with a wall-mounted charger.

What are the maintenance costs to consider?

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 secondhand EV you may need to factor in the cost to replace the battery.

Is buying an EV 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.

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