DRIVING AN EV
Electric Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions
Most electric vehicles operate in a similar fashion to petrol vehicles, but this can vary between models. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our quick start guides before collecting your vehicle.
We do not offer training, but we do have quick start guides for each of our EV models. Select your vehicle above to access the guides.
Estimated driving range for our electric vehicles is 300kms on 80% charge.
As with an internal combustion engine, driving range will vary. The most common reasons for variance are:
- Quick acceleration and fast driving
- The use of heating and air conditioning
- External conditions (e.g. cold or warm weather)
Your EV display screen will show you specific information related to battery charge and driving range.
Constant recharging shortens the life span and driving range of the battery. There's no need to charge to full capacity consistently, unless you need to rely on the entire driving range of your vehicle.
Staying between 20% and 80% battery capacity will leave you with plenty of driving miles and be gentle on the battery.
There are many free and paid charging stations located across New Zealand. To find your closest charging station or to plan ahead, please refer to our charging your EV on the road page.
The time it takes to charge your EV will depend on how many kW you want, and what type of connection. The following table can be used as a guide:
| Charger Type | Use | Charging Time | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable three-pin charging cable | For private owners, used in the home or as a back-up while on the road | Trickle AC charge: 12-14 hours | AC 1.75kW |
| Wall charger | Fast charging in the home Business fleet charging |
Fast AC charge: 4 hours | AC: 7-22kW |
| Public charger | For public use | Fast AC charge: 4 hours Rapid DC Charge: 45 mins |
AC: 7-22kW DC: 50kW+ |
There are many free and paid charging stations available in New Zealand. Most paid stations charge a fee based on kWH usage, charging time or percentage of battery charged. Just as petrol prices fluctuate, charging fees vary from station to station. For more information on EV charging, please refer to our charging your EV page.
Customers must return the vehicle with at least 75% charge or incur a recharge fee.
The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle from 80-100% can exceed the time to charge from 20-80%, therefore to improve charge efficiency we have set the max charge to 80%.
If you run out of charge while you're on the road, please call Roadside Assistance on 0800 652 847.
As with an internal combustion engine, environmental conditions and driving style can impact the driving range. Your EV display screen will show you specific information related to battery charge and driving range.
Please contact Roadside Assistance on 0800 652 847.
VEHICLE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHARGING
You can find vehicle specific instructions for charging your vehicle at the bottom of our vehicle operation guide. Please click on the link below.
