Electric ute a real beaut for commute

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/The Press

Quiet operation: John Shortall's electric ute costs about $1 a day to run. The Chinese-made Pioneer EV is powered by six 100-amp hour batteries, drawing 72 volts enough to drive about 25km after a six-hour charge.

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The solution to one Christchurch family's petrol-cost worries has been as easy as flicking a switch.

John and Jennifer Shortall, who have four children, crunched the numbers for a year considering how best to tackle the commute from Papanui to Lincoln, where John works for Landcare Research.

They finally came up with, what they believed, was the right answer a second-hand, three-wheel electric ute classified as a motorcycle, not a car.

Now, instead of taking the people carrier (which has been replaced with a more economic model) or two buses to work, Shortall uses the three-wheeler. He has a petrol generator as a back-up, and recharges the vehicle at work by plugging it into the mains.

"I couldn't see the point of running the family car for one or two people just to do the shopping, taking the kids to sports or getting to venues and even commuting to work certainly with the cost of petrol prices, I got fed up," he said.

"It should pay itself off in two years."

At an estimated cost of $1 a day, Jennifer Shortall said a user did not have to be a greenie to appreciate the savings.

"We factored in the buses and did all the sums and this is (the best option) by far," she said.

John Shortall admitted those weighing more than 100kg or being taller than 188cm might have some difficulty using it, and its quiet operation made it potentially dangerous for cyclists.

The ride was a little bumpy but he believed there would be many more on New Zealand's roads in the future.

At this point, he knew of one other such vehicle in New Zealand, in the North Island.

The Chinese-made Pioneer EV, known in the United States as a Zap Xebra PK, is powered by six 100-amp hour batteries, drawing 72 volts enough to drive about 25km after a six-hour charge.

With battery technology improving, its range should expand, he said.

Normally costing about $12,000, he paid the New Zealand importer $8000 because it was a demo model.

The Pioneer was quick off the mark, he said, with a top speed of 65km/h.

Registration is only about $100 a year because it has a motorbike classification and the majority of wear and tear is on the tyres.

"At $8000, you do the sums," Jennifer Shortall said.

The vehicle has drawn looks, pointing and some derisive laughter.

Comparisons have been drawn to TV character Mr Bean's car and it has been described as a tadpole and mosquito.

However, John Shortall said most people were laughing with him.

Most importantly it has passed the embarrassment test with their four children.

"I think it's cute," daughter Christiane, 11, said.