Fuel crisis: The next NZ shortage could be electric and hybrid vehicles, as customers flock to them

Auto dealers in Hawke's Bay have seen an increase in EV and hybrid sales since the increase in the price of petrol.

Hawke’s Bay car dealers say people are flocking to buy electric and hybrid vehicles amid soaring fuel prices, and some are now worried about their stock levels.

Several car yards around the region said they’d seen an increase in sales of EVs and hybrids as the Iranian conflict continued to put pressure on pumps.

On Monday, the Government announced $50 million in loans to expand the country’s public EV charging stations from roughly 1800 to 2574.

Currently, New Zealand has the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD.

Hawke’s Bay Toyota Hastings new vehicle sales manager Shaun Simpson said from last week he’d seen a “noticeable shift” in customers inquiring about EV or hybrid cars.

“Rising fuel prices have clearly become a much more prominent part of the conversation,” Simpson said.

On the Lexus side of the yard, Simpson said it had been the “strongest month yet” for the brand’s plug-in hybrid models.

“Customers are increasingly drawn to the ability to complete short, everyday trips in full electric mode, which can dramatically reduce weekly fuel costs while still offering the flexibility of a hybrid system for longer journeys.”

Dan Enticott, Bayswater Vehicle Group’s branch manager of Nissan, BYD and Volkswagen, said he had seen an increase in EV sales and foot traffic since February 14.

“It’s been all day, every day,” he said.

But Enticott said the increased sales meant stock was running low nationwide.

Before the Iranian conflict, the company could usually supply any vehicle that was needed, he said.

Now, Enticott said customers could be forced to wait two to three months to receive their vehicles.

Bayswater Hastings Hyundai, Isuzu and MG branch manager Paul Kerr said EV and hybrid sales had “absolutely” increased since fuel prices soared.

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But he too was steadily running out of cars despite having a good range of EVs and hybrids available.

Kerr said he believed the country would have a “massive disruption” of new cars coming into the country because of shipping companies potentially shutting down shipments.

“They’ll try to rationalise them and, us being the size that we are in New Zealand, we potentially could be on the receiving end of not getting cars,” he said.

“If you look at the cost at the pump ... imagine how much that is on a transport ship – it would be astronomical the change in fuel.”

Kerr said he was not giving industry insight, rather his personal belief.

“I hope I’m wrong.”

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.