Rising petrol taxes, as high as 25.3 cents a litre in Auckland, may increase demand for electric vehicles and speed up the introduction of electric charging stations, says Volvo's general manager Coby Duggan.
The New Zealand boss of Volvo said Government and Auckland Council plans to hike petrol taxes will act as a de facto subsidy for electric vehicles, making them a more attractive financial proposition.
On Tuesday, the Government announced plans for petrol tax hikes of 9 cents to 12c a litre over the next three years as part of its draft 10-year transport plan to boost spending on public transport and local and regional roads in a bid to lower the road toll.
This is on top of a proposed regional petrol tax of 11.5c a litre, including GST, the council plans.
The decision to purchase an EV or hybrid is in part, an economic one for many buyers
When GST is added to the Government tax hikes, Aucklanders could be paying up to 25.3c a litre extra for petrol after three years.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said raising petrol by 3c a litre would cost the driver of an average car filling up once a fortnight about 75c a week, or $39 a year.
Raising petrol by 25.3c will cost Auckland drivers $329 a year, or $6.33 a week using Twyford's formula.