Electric vehicle interest and orders have stepped up a gear, due to rising petrol prices

Hyundai New Zealand says deposits on their IONIQ 5 vehicle have doubled in the past week.

Electric vehicle interest on its website has also increased by 440 percent...compared to the same week last year.

General Manager Chris Blair says anecdotal feedback from customers is that this a direct response to petrol prices, and global supply uncertainty.

He says people are looking at the long-term trend and want a vehicle that'll overcome future changes to fuel.