The new age of car buying: EVs, hybrids and the end of old myths

The new age of car buying: EVs, hybrids and the end of old myths

From The Front Page by NZ Herald

April 22, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the current trends in electric vehicle registrations and addresses common myths about EVs with guest Jonathan Sergel.

It’s safe to say our last episode on EVs amid the current fuel crisis sparked some lively debate. Our last guest’s take on unreliable EVs and the possibility of brand collapses drew strong pushback. So, today, we're flipping the script with a fresh take to tackle your top concerns head-on. EV registrations are still surging alongside hybrids and PHEVs. As of April 19, there were 5346 EVs registered this year, compared to 2493 at the same time last year. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEVs, are at an all-time high up 79% and Hybrids up 6.2%. Today on The Front Page, AA chief mobility officer, Jonathan Sergel, is with us to break down the fact and fiction around EVs. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Chelsea Daniels

Guest: Jonathan Sergel

Topics covered

  • electric vehicles
  • hybrids
  • car buying
  • fuel crisis
  • EV registrations
  • PHEVs
  • myths about EVs

Keywords

  • electric vehicles
  • EVs
  • hybrids
  • PHEVs
  • car buying
  • fuel crisis
  • registrations
  • myths

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NZ Herald, AA

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