New Zealand risks falling behind countries such as Nepal, Ethiopia, Thailand and Denmark in the transition to electric vehicles unless it adopts a clear long-term strategy for transport electrification, according to EV charging technology company Thundergrid.
The company says the warning comes despite a strong rebound in New Zealand’s EV market following this year’s fuel crisis. In June, 2,696 battery electric vehicles were registered, up 154.6% on June 2025, accounting for more than 20% of all new vehicle sales.
Electricity delivered through Thundergrid’s charging network also increased 44% year-on-year, powering an estimated 1.7 million kilometres of electric driving during the month.
Thundergrid co-founder Jonathan Zukerman says recent growth has been driven more by high fuel prices than by long-term policy certainty.
“The fuel crisis has shown New Zealanders are willing to make the switch, but when fuel prices eventually stabilise, we’ll need something stronger than economics keeping the momentum going. That’s where a clear roadmap becomes critical,” says Zukerman.
Zukerman says some of the countries making the fastest progress aren’t necessarily the wealthiest; they’re the ones giving businesses, consumers and infrastructure providers confidence about the future.
“Most people think of Norway or China when they think about EV success stories, but some of the biggest shifts are happening in places like Nepal and Ethiopia.”
Nepal has encouraged EV adoption through favourable tax settings and renewable electricity, while Ethiopia has banned imports of new petrol and diesel vehicles as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Thailand has established itself as a regional EV manufacturing hub through investment incentives, while Denmark has expanded its public charging network to more than 50,000 chargers, with electric vehicles now accounting for more than 60% of new car registrations.
“These countries are all very different, but have one thing in common: people have certainty, and infrastructure is available to support electrification. Businesses have confidence to invest in fleets and heavy transport, and consumers have confidence to switch to EVs,” says Zukerman.
Thundergrid says it is working with a New Zealand freight operator running what it describes as the country’s first 600kWh electric truck and is exploring a national charging network to support wider heavy vehicle electrification. The truck has saved more than $30,000 in operating costs during its first three months in service, according to the company.
Zukerman says New Zealand already has many of the foundations needed to accelerate EV uptake.
“We generate more than 80% of our electricity from renewable sources, consumer demand is growing, and businesses are ready to invest. What we need now is the confidence that comes from a long-term plan,” he says.
“The fuel crisis has proven New Zealanders are willing to embrace electric transport. The next challenge is creating the conditions that make the transition inevitable. Without greater certainty, New Zealand risks slowing just as other countries accelerate.”
