A Southland council is gearing up to purchase new hybrid utes despite one of the vehicles breaking down in the “middle of nowhere” during testing.
By Matthew Rosenberg of Local Democracy Reporting
On Thursday, an Environment Southland committee approved the replacement of up to four vehicles with the intention of adding three BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrids to their fleet.
But feedback from a senior council staffer who tested the ute showed it almost left its occupants high and dry.
“During this trip, we encountered a fault which could have been a serious problem,” hydrology specialist Michael McDonald wrote.
“We were an hour and a half from the road-end into the middle of nowhere and the vehicle entered transport mode after the touchscreen locked up. Being out of reception, we did not realise what it meant.”
McDonald said the issue was resolved after climbing halfway up a hill to research and answer calls.
Despite the hairy situation, he said the ute drove well, noted its safety features and felt it was suitable.
The incident was acknowledged by council general manager corporate services Patrick Ng at Thursday's meeting, who described whatu happened as an electrical fault under extreme operating conditions.
Ng said more conventional four wheel drive vehicles could be used in extreme cases and backed the BYD hybrid as a “positive addition” which would reduce emissions.
A council report showed the vehicles were priced an estimated $60,000 each but could complete the first 100km of each trip in electric-only mode.
They came with a five-star safety rating and were similar in price to the diesel vehicles the council typically purchased.
Environment Southland staff were planning to clear space for replacements by disposing of four vehicles — two Mazda Utes, a Mitsubishi Ute and a Mazda SUV.
Those vehicles were manufactured between 2017 and 2021 and had clocked up between 100,505km and 186,925km.
The council expected to recoup around $55,000 from the sell-off, which would be put towards an estimated replacement cost of $222,000 plus GST for three BYD utes and one MGS5 EV SUV.
Council chair Jeremy McPhail questioned the amount council normally received from selling vehicles, saying he hoped it could pocket more than $55,000.
Ng said they were historically sold through Turners with an agreed reserve.
Purchase of the BYD utes was dependent on Dunedin-based car dealership Andrew Simms setting up in Invercargill within the next few months, otherwise different options would be considered, Ng told Local Democracy Reporting.
The council’s fleet consisted of 32 utes, 17 SUVs and one passenger car for the 2025 financial year.
Final approval for replacing the vehicles depended on the committee's decision being approved by full council.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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