$1000/year to drive your EV: Road user charges for electric vehicles from April 1, Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirms

Electric vehicles will lose their long-time exemption from road user charges (RUCs) on April 1, Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirmed this afternoon. Brown said that concern had been addressed by a lower RUC rate for PHEVs, whose owners will pay $53 per 1000km. If EVs maintained their RUC exemption as NZ’s fleet electrifies, the Crown would be left with a $2b hole in its books. Overall, she supported the elimination of electric vehicles RUC exemption, however. It’s time for EV owners to pay their fair share,” Wiley said.