Everything you need to know about electric and hybrid vehicles
Read this handy glossary on all things electric and you’ll know your BEV from your PHEV in no time.
Cars driven by electricity instead of fuel. This term can include any vehicle that uses a battery as its energy supply.
Petrol and diesel are never needed to get a BEV moving. It’s a vehicle that drives solely on battery power.
A vehicle that has a traditional combustion engine and an electric motor. Each engine is often used for a different style of driving, such as electric for shorter city drives, and combustion for longer, faster drives.
A vehicle that combines a combustion engine and an electric motor. The rechargeable battery can be charged from a power socket and the combustion engine kicks in during longer drives. Plug-in hybrids can drive using just their electric motor for around 50km, which makes them great for city dwellers who occasionally take longer trips.
There are more and more reasons arguing in favour of sustainable electric mobility – not least in financial terms. With government rebates available, longer ranges than ever before, and low maintenance costs, when will you make the switch?
If you want to know more about our electric range, wonder what owning an electric car is like, or run a business and are curious to find out if your fleet can run on electric, you’ve come to the right place. Find answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked about electric cars.
According to the latest WLTP figures, up to 500 km*, and performance is improving all the time. It’s commonly thought that electric cars can’t travel that far, but it’s a misconception that is fast disappearing with the latest generation of electric vehicles. Like petrol and diesel cars, range is influenced by a variety of factors, including driving conditions, weather, load, tyres and aerodynamics.
*This is variable based on driving conditions, style, situation and terrain.
Like a petrol or diesel car, your electric car will warn you when it’s running low. It will also switch automatically to energy-saving mode. Should something go wrong, as a driver of an electric vehicle you can use our breakdown service by calling our service centre.
The network of charging stations in the NZ is growing extremely rapidly right now. There are already more electric charging points than there are fuel stations and the number is increasing all the time.
You’re likely to be pleasantly surprised by how long the batteries last, and performance is improving all the time. The key factor is how often the battery is charged and discharged.
The purchase price for an electric car is currently somewhat higher than for a comparable petrol or diesel due to manufacturing costs associated with the battery, but there are also many purchase incentives, including Government’s Clean Car Discount rebate for drivers converting to electric.
Find out more about the NZ Govt. Clean Car Programme.
The best way to answer this question is to drive one. We’re pretty certain you’ll find the experience anything but boring. Unlike petrol and diesel cars, electric cars have what is called ‘instant torque’, which means there is no lag between you pressing the accelerator and the power coming on.
In addition, the batteries in the latest generation of electric vehicle are integrated into the car floor, giving it a phenomenally low centre of gravity and optimum weight distribution. As a result, the dynamics of electric vehicles are breathtaking.
You’ll never want to go back.
EVs have an exterior e-sound as standard which emits an external electronic sound to pedestrians at low speeds, at a decibel level similar to a petrol or diesel engine.
No, Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which have proved themselves in millions of applications. The battery can be charged thousands and thousands of times in this period.
Continental Motorrad recently welcomed the all electric BMW CE 04 scooter to the lineup. With a range of up to 130kms, max speed of 121kph, full connectivity through the BMW Motorrad Connected app, and only 65 minutes to charge from 0-80%, the CE 04 is a great choice for getting around the city.
Electric and Plug‑in Hybrid vehicles are now a very real alternative to conventional engines, for all types of Kiwi lifestyles. And it’s never been easier to charge at home, at work or on the road.
Electric mobility is going to have a lasting impact on how we refuel our vehicles. Ultimately, you may not need to visit your local petrol station. You can charge the battery in your electric car almost anywhere: at home from a domestic socket, from a Wallbox, at public charging points or rapid charging stations. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll soon find that it is almost as easy as charging your smartphone.
Actually, it’s really simple. All you need is a charging cable and a connection to electricity. The quickest and simplest way to charge from home is with a wallbox. This isn’t just an option for owners who can park their cars outside their homes. Wallboxes can also be installed in the garages of blocks of flats, while charging point manufacturers are developing a variety of different solutions for on-street charging.
A Wallbox is a type of “high-power socket” that is mounted on the wall for use at home. This is an optional extra and currently supplies you with a maximum charging output of 11 kW. If you charge your electric car with an optional Wallbox, you simply need to connect the plug of the charging cable to the socket on your vehicle and it will start to charge.
Charging at public charging stations is similarly convenient, but usually faster. Employers and retailers are also increasingly offering charging, so you can fill up while you work or shop. If there is no permanently installed cable there, simply use the charging cable supplied, which you should always have in the trunk of your vehicle.
Plug in, charge, unlock and plug out. That’s how easy it is to charge your electric car.
AC Charging
With AC charging, the on-board AC/DC charger converts the power from the public AC grid into the required direct current. This process is enabled by a Type 2 connector. Most public charging stations are equipped with at least one Type 2 connector.
With the second type of charging – DC charging – the alternating current is converted into direct current before it reaches the vehicle – for example in the charging station. The advantage of this is that it enables a higher output during charging, which automatically reduces the time needed to charge.
Specifically for fast charging, the CCS (Combined Charging System) is the common worldwide standard connector. The corresponding charging plug is provided with additional contacts for DC fast charging and is permanently attached to all DC charging stations, e.g. Chargenet charging stations.
Simple rule of thumb says: the higher the charging power, the faster the charging process. However, the time needed can vary considerably, depending on the battery charge state. When recharging the battery, conditions such as the ambient temperature or the battery temperature also play a role. If, for example, you charge your Volkswagen ID. at your household socket, you can cover your daily needs with a convenient overnight charge at up to 2.3 kW per hour. Charging is much faster with a wallbox with up to 11kW, or at a public charging station.
The fastest way to charge is to use High Power Charging (HPC) stations with a charging output of 100 kW or more. In general, we recommend that you charge your electric car in daily operation in the state of charge up to 80%. This way you will preserve your battery.
It’s just a few steps and a few simple moves to charge an electric car. Charging your electric car is much easier than you think.
It’s not mandatory, but we recommend all owners of a plug-in car get a home wallbox, in the same way that one wouldn’t rely on workplace or public charging for a smartphone or laptop.
Discover our range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from the world’s most progressive luxury automotive brands: Audi, Volkswagen, Ferrari, BMW, MINI and Porsche.
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