Championing the electric car in Wanaka yesterday is Better NZ Trust chairwoman Kathryn Trounson. PHOTO: SEAN NUGENT

Dozens gathered at the Wanaka lakefront to examine and learn about electric cars and the attraction of owning one.

Electric vehicle owners taking part in the Great EV Road Trip stopped off in town yesterday afternoon to inform locals about what the vehicles had to offer.

The annual road trip, organised by the Better NZ Trust, is in its fifth year, and chairwoman Kathryn Trounson, of Auckland, said it was a good opportunity for people to learn more about the cars and talk to the owners without feeling pressured to buy one.

"They're fun to drive and cheap to operate, so we're trying very hard to persuade people of Wanaka and Central Otago to start thinking about when their car needs replacing.''

The number of electric vehicle registrations has risen significantly in recent years, from 595 nationwide at the start of 2015 to nearly 13,000 now, and Ms Trounson said with the number of charging stations now available, an electric vehicle was a good option for households with two or more cars.

The road trip began late last month and will continue until the end of April, stopping in Alexandra, Mosgiel, Dunedin and Oamaru next week.