The Blue Pacific has developed an external dependence on fossil fuels – now shown to be a deeply problematic issue.
On the positive side, Pacific Island states have in common a surplus of their own energy - sunshine and wind - plenty of it. Plus, limited roading networks and shorter road trips (compared say, to New Zealand and Australia). And a highly developed awareness of the effects of climate change.
Uptake
The rapidly increasing uptake of electric vehicles – both in domestic and commercial fleets – means there is now a global supply for the second-hand market.
A snapshot of uptake (from the World Resources Institute):
‘Globally, 22% of passenger vehicles sold in 2024 were electric. That's 8 times higher than it was just five years earlier.
‘According to the International Energy Agency, the top six countries with the highest share of EV sales are
- Norway (electric vehicles made up 92% of passenger vehicle sales in 2024),
- Sweden (58%),
- Denmark (56%),
- Finland (50%),
- the Netherlands and China (tied at 48%).
‘Notably, this makes China a leader in both total volume and share of EV sales.’
By 2025, the five countries with the most EV sales were
China – 11.3 million
USA – 1.5 million
Germany – 570,400
United Kingdom – 550,000
France – 450,600
The uptake for EVs in Japan is notably lower, with EVs accounting for just 1.6% of new passenger car sales in 2025. This is a result of Japanese drivers’ preference for hybrid vehicles. This does have upsides, however, in that there are more EVs for export; and an established and huge export market for second-hand hybrid vehicles.
A Pacific comparison: data reflected in news reports in April 2026 show that New Zealand’s current fossil fuel supply concerns have resulted in an EV buying surge.
Registrations of full battery new EVs leaped 400% in March 2026, from an average of 800 a month previously, to 3,100.
Electrifying the Pacific
PTI plays a vital role in advancing the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s commitment to a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Blue Pacific. Our Pacific Focus industry stories usually hone in on exporting opportunities. This time, unusually, we advocate for the electrification of the Pacific which will long-term environmental, economic and societal benefits.
All of the above comprises the perfect matrix of circumstance for a developing industry for electric vehicles coming into the Blue Pacific – from buses to utilities to passenger cars to bikes. And boats.
For Pacific Island countries, such an approach would simultaneously:
make for a powerful and practical position to mitigate climate change
relieve countries and individual island communities of the reliance on imported fossil fuels
fast-track renewable energy systems for all communities
provide a decentralised independent electricity supply and distribution network ( vehicle batteries can easily power households at night – no lines network needed.)
be a magnet for forward-thinking inbound investment
be a growth industry controlled by the island states.
First, an industry of import and distribution. Then, even possibly manufacturing. It's not an impossible thought. A clean industry, possible in boutique decentralised workshops (following the Swiss Swatch Watch model, where a cooperative of small specialist manufacturers each provide different components). An innovative industry at the forefront of transport. Remembering that before Europe's great ‘Age of Discovery’, the entire Pacific had already been explored and was continually being traversed – by sailing vessel far in advance, technologically and in terms of windward sailing ability, than their European counterparts of the time.
Further ideas
And this is not even beginning to look at the potential of solar-assisted electric powered boats. If you run out of 'gas', then just time (and the sun) provides your top-up. No need for petrol or diesel ever again. The manufacture of electric outboard motors is very simple – basically a propeller at the end of a long shaft, with a motor as counterbalance at the head of the drive-shaft – similar in principle to the long-tail boats common across South-East Asia. Only with electric motors that can be sourced from electric tools, or household appliances. The evolution of electric boats is a rapidly growing industry worldwide, and one in which the Pacific could be at the forefront of the wave. We have the oceanic experience.
In the far south-west corner of the Pacific is an island community already well advanced with all this. Waiheke Island (Te Motu Ara i Roa), 12 nautical miles into the morning sun from Auckland city, is a community of around 9,000 people. The island is about 20km long and 8km wide. It’s hilly, too. Very similar, in fact, to many high Pacific Islands.
It’s also known in New Zealand as ‘the place where old Leafs go.’ (Nissan Leafs, the breakthrough passenger electric cars). This is a reference to the much-remarked-upon phenomenon of 'range anxiety' with respect to electric cars. Especially ageing ones, where their battery capacity is diminishing. But on an island where your longest possible road trip is 25km, this is not really an issue. Besides, running out of power doesn’t mean you need to find a petrol station. Just your nearest house will do.
Waiheke is widely regarded as having s one of the highest ratios of electric to ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles in the Pacific region, with more than 900 electric cars on the island, out of an island vehicle fleet of around 2,000. Buses are electric too. Electric bikes and scooters for hire for tourists. And the community is developing plans for its own solar generation; and a system between neighbours where electricity is shared via the existing grid of powerlines, or by sharing car battery power at night. The island is a working model of how this could be done, with a growing number of households existing entirely off the New Zealand electric grid.
Charging networks
One challenge to be addressed by governments, is the establishment of a practical, easy-to-access network of electric vehicle charging stations. Though this is perhaps less of an issue in small islands, than in vast countries with extensive roading networks. And it must be remembered that every property with electricity supply is in fact a charging station – though not necessarily for fast charging.
New Caledonia already has a network of electric car charging stations; and electric vehicles are becoming a regular sight on the roads there. It has a developed boutique engineering business. And the country’s economy desperately needs to diversify from its over-reliance on the nickel mining industry. This represents a timely opportunity for economic diversification.
Samoa’s change to left-hand drive cars, to access the second-hand Japanese cars market, means the supply of Leafs could begin immediately – just like at Waiheke.
Plus, there’s an increasing Chinese supply of electric vehicles. Their pre-eminent marque, BYD (‘Build Your Dreams’ which also builds minivans and utility pickup trucks) has recently overtaken Tesla as the biggest-selling electric vehicle company in the world. This was reported by the BBC 3 January 2026 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9rjwpvmpzo
Works remotely, too
In remote agriculture also, the possibilities are there, and real. The organisation Rewiring Aotearoa is led by New Zealand cherry farmer Mike Casey, based in Central Otago, between Queenstown and Wanaka.
His farming operation is entirely electric, with almost all generation of the power achieved within his farm boundaries. Right now, he has his neighbouring farmers clamouring to borrow his electric tractors!
As Mike says in this informative electric farming video, “All of a sudden, as a farmer, I could start using [solar] energy that I generate myself.
“Farms are going to play a key role globally: farms are going to become the future power plants of the world.”
See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbY0-ALEQ4w
The motto of Rewiring Aotearoa is ‘New Zealand Made Energy.’ This holds true for any place on earth that has sunshine and wind and perhaps other forms of natural energy supply. Your energy can be made – and be your own – anywhere.
The technology for all of the above exists right now. And the market imperatives too – and now even more urgent.
This is not the stuff of fantasy. And with ever-improving, ever-miniaturising technology, the possibilities for our region are legion. A new industry for the Blue Pacific could be born. Something to think about.
