Thinking about buying an electric car in 2026? You’re not alone! This guide walks you through how to choose the right EV – both new or used – for your needs, without wasting money or buying the wrong one.
Kiwis have been snapping up electric vehicles like never before, causing some dealerships to run out of stock. This is why knowing what actually matters before you go electric car shopping is more important than ever.
In this video I visit car yards in New Zealand and break down the three things that really determine which EV you should buy:
⚡ Range: how much do you actually need (and why more isn’t always better)
🚗 Size: from tiny hatchbacks to 7-seater family haulers
💰 Budget: finding the smartest way to go electric in today’s EV market.
You’ll also learn:
– How realistic EV range figures really are in NZ conditions
– The easiest ways to charge at home and on road trips
– New vs used EV buying tips
– Which Nissan Leaf models to choose (and which to avoid)
– What happens if things go wrong with your used EV.
Whether you’re looking at a brand-new EV or a budget-friendly second-hand option, this video will help you buy with confidence – just be warned: as Gav says, once you go electric, you’ll never go back…
📽️IN THIS VIDEO:
0:00 – Intro
0:59 – What range do you need?
2:10 – Are stated ranges realistic?
2:29 – How to charge your EV
3:42 – They’re cheap to run!
4:44 – Choosing the right sized EV
5:56 – How much should you spend?
6:39 – What about a used EV?
7:57 – Batteries, repairs and warranties
💚MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
The EV Buyers’ Guide: https://ecotricity.co.nz/ev-buyers-guide
How to charge an EV (in plain English): https://youtu.be/DRy8JNsp9Ug
Dongfeng Box review: https://youtu.be/izowVnqB6XQ
BYD Atto 1 review: https://youtu.be/-jRJ1da83rg
BYD Atto 2 review: https://youtu.be/1burC9wpu7U
BYD Sealion 7 vs Tesla Model Y review: https://youtu.be/JLB3l-5ZvvM
Finding a decent, used Nissan Leaf: https://youtu.be/2xLBLhGwlX0
⚡JOIN US:
Keen on cutting your carbon footprint? Join us at Ecotricity, the home of clean, renewable energy! Switch today to join the renewable energy movement: https://www.ecotricity.co.nz
https://www.ecotricity.co.nz
🌏MORE ECOTRICITY CONTENT:
Facebook: / ecotricitynz
TikTok: / ecotricitynz
Instagram: / ecotricity_nz
DISCLAIMER:
This video is produced by Ecotricity NZ and is not sponsored by any brands mentioned.
#Ecotricity #electricvehicle #NZ #guide #tips #EVs #oilcrisis #fuelpricehike
Stop promoting Tesla. No amount of saving the world, or your pocket is worth what your money goes to ruin human kind with it
BYD is the best
Telsa garbage
Is there a review coming of the Jaecoo J5 anytime soon?
We’ve had the Ioniq 5 for over 4 years and 101,000 km. Large car; will fit 3 adult kids and also tow a glider trailer. 450 km around town, 380 km open road (less regenerative braking) and 315 km towing the trailer open road. Now selling for around 40k (heartbreaking for those who bought new).
The Chinese EV manufacturers are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government, US vehicle manufacturers aren't subsidized by anyone. Stand on your own feet.
I own an ICE vehicle now that is 60 years old. I guarantee the overall cost over 60 years will be cheaper than electric.
I'm glad I bought my PHEV Eclipse cross during the rebate. The 50km per charge is enough for our family's daily commute around Auckland. Might go Outlander Phev or Tesla in the future.
1:35 – only pedo protectors buy Tesla 😂❤
I own a reasonably efficient petrol car. At 5 Litres per 100 KMs this costs $16.43 per 100 KMs at $3.28 / litre (today's price at my local petrol station). If I switched to an EV, I would be up for $7.6 RUC + $1.37 Admin fee and 15 KWH of charging at $0.46 per KWH = $6.84.
So all up $16.43 for petrol vs. $15.84 for an EV per 100 KMs. Not a great saving !
I think the government has screwed the scrum in favour of petrol cars.
looking forward to buy one ev. Thank you for the tips.
Real world range for our Kia ev6 around town add 20%, on a trip on the open road deduct 20%. But who cares anyway. Because there are charge stations everywhere and they only take ten to fifteen minutes on most of my charges my trip limit is my bladder.
Is it true that no one will trade in your EV when you want to upgrade?
Tesla's for pedophiles 🇺🇸💩🇺🇸
I'm afraid that I'm not surprised. I have to go EV. Mind you I STILL prefer ICEs by a long shot! However I'm not that stupid to use my ICE for short commutes. I'm already using our EV for local commutes or even a semi road trip.
Terrible video
The review is bit limited — it treats EV range too simply and doesn’t explain how much real-world range drops with temperature, open-road driving, and heater use.
It also skips an important ownership factor: some newer EV brands (including newer Chinese entrants) still have developing parts and repair networks, which can lead to long repair delays, higher insurance costs, and more write-offs.
Had the Nissan Ariya for a month, love it
Tesla model YL delivery (April-may)
Would you recommend owning an EV with the intention to charge it purely using public chargers? We own our home, it is a townhouse with 2x offstreet parks out the back, but I'm unsure of the logistics of having a charger installed without the convenience of a garage. Our parks are roughly 3m from the back doors after a deck/garden area and over a fence, so I'm unsure if it's even worth it for us or if fast charging at home is even viable.
You guys get access to so many more cheap Asian EV's there than in the UK pretty jealous truth be told. Case in point your Dongfeng Box over here is £19k GBP or 43K in NZD just ridiculous.
Really good video. Keep it up.
Nice vid, Gav – perfectly timed with exactly what people need to know!
I wish the Leapmotor C10 800v long range would hurry up.
I am a retiree and got my first EV 9 years ago – partly for environmental reasons, but also because I worked out the costs of electricity vs patrol. A Japanese import with 14k on the clock and one year old. Apart from very long trips when I had to use commercial chargers, I used free charging, so in 21k of driving over 3 years, I spent $30 on energy. Also, it was super quiet, very responsive and a service was $100.
I sold the Leaf and bought a new MG ZS SUV in 2021 and benefitted from the rebate. After selling the Left, the new unit cost me $20k and I still own it. I am in Auckland and mostly use if for shopping or my annual trip to see family in Tauranga – so in 4.5 years I have done only 13,000km and the range is still over 270km. It's pristine, and lives in a garage with a cover when not in use.
So far, to cover all my distance travelled, I have spent about $50 – again, for the long trips. I can still charge for free when I go to the mall. I travel into the city a lot, but use the train system – it's faster and I don't have to deal with parking.
I would never go back to an ICE
Very Informative ,Thank you.
Interesting that Chargenet have increased public charging prices as petrol etc is increasing. Coincidence, I think not.
The BYD blade cells are getting some huge mileage numbers in Chinese taxis even with regular rapid charging
They suck 😅have a crash and catch fire and they sound like a scooter. 😂😂😂gtfo