Electric FAQs

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 Volkswagen breakdown service on by calling our authorised service centres.

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.

Find a charging station in New Zealand.

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.

At Volkswagen, we guarantee your battery for eight years or 160,000 km – whichever comes first.

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.

Charging your electric car is very safe, even in damp and rainy conditions. As long as your electric car and the charging station meet strict legal standards, no electricity will flow until a secure and fully safe contact has been established.

You can also safely take your car through a car wash and open the bonnet in the rain. And your electric car is as safe as any other when there is lightning.

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.

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.

Employers and retailers are also increasingly offering charging, so you can fill up while you work or shop.

They are as dependable and safe as every other Volkswagen, and equipped with the most technologically advanced safety systems. If you should nevertheless experience a breakdown, simply call our Roadside Assist hotline on 0800 577 599.

Recycling of used high-voltage batteries does not damage the environment. The lithium-ion battery in electric vehicles is a valuable source of raw materials. When the battery is recycled, secondary raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese can be extracted.  This helps to replace the expensive mining of primary raw materials. 

All of our BEVs and PHEVs have an exterior e-sound as standard which emits an external electronic sound to pedestrians up to 29 km an hour at a decibel level, the same amount of a petrol or diesel engine.

No, Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which have proved themselves in millions of applications. The technology is so far advanced that Volkswagen can, with good conscience, give a guarantee on batteries. The battery can be charged thousands and thousands of times in this period. We offer an 8 year / 160,000km (whichever comes first) battery warranty on all our BEV and PHEV models.

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.

You can use one of many public charging points - a list of available charging stations is available and can be found here.