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"Twofold": High fuel costs not the only thing behind 'exploding demand' for EVs

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Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 3 Nov 2026, 7:59am
The Podcast on iHeartRadio
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Soaring fuel prices aren't the only thing driving demand for electric vehicles. 

Motor Trade Association data reveals Plug-in Hybrids and Battery Electric Vehicles together reached 3,317 registrations last month, up 174% on a year ago. 

EVs also made up 22.7% of new light vehicles, against 8.9% the previous October. 

EV City owner Dave Boot told Mike Hosking the surge in interest goes beyond rising petrol costs. 

He says availability is also a major factor, with more than 30 new Chinese EV models entering the market in the past year. 

Boot also says the figures don't yet reflect the full scale of demand, as sales surged in March, but many of those vehicles hadn't even been built then, taking up to six months to arrive and be registered. 

He says that means the latest registration figures are still catching up with demand. 

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