Updates on the Government's work to help grow the number of electric vehicles on New Zealand roads. No Images? Click here Electric Vehicle News Heavy EVs promise breath of fresh airThree launches in recent weeks give a taste of the potential for electrifying our heavy vehicle fleet. “Changing from diesel buses and trucks to electric tackles the air quality issues of central cities, as well as reducing carbon emissions,” says Liz Yeaman, EECA’s Transport Development Manager. “It's good news for the millions who live and work in big cities.” The launches were all projects part-funded by the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, administered by EECA. Two projects, one with Auckland University of Technology and one with Auckland Transport, put electric buses on the road in Auckland; the third, by Waste Management Ltd, is a workshop to convert diesel trucks to electric. Medium-sized electric trucks are expected in the market later this year. Fuzo NZ said last September it plans to begin testing their box body eCanter on New Zealand roads in the third-quarter. “Others will follow,” says Yeaman. “Nearly 80% of all freight movements are within regions so there’s heaps of scope to go electric.” As heavy electric vehicles are exempt from road user charges until they make up 2% of the heavy vehicle fleet, owners of trucks and buses should have a hard look at electric options for their next vehicle purchase, she says. Strong response to latest funding roundApplications to round four of the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund recently closed and, once again, far exceeded the funding available. $4 million was budgeted for this round, says Dinesh Chand, EECA Contestable Funds Manager. “The quality of applications is very high. We might be seeing more EVs on our roads but they’re still a fraction of our total fleet, so it’s great that innovative thinking in the sector is only getting stronger.” Successful applicants will be notified in early August. Round 5 will open in the third quarter of 2018 – watch this space for details. "I'm not going back!" says contractorAn electrical contractor with an electric van? It made perfect sense to Wayan Rosie of Pluto Electrics – especially after he did the numbers. After a few months’ driving his eNV200 battery-powered plug-in van, the results are conclusive. “I will never buy another combustion engine vehicle again.” EV experiences snapped up by hundreds831 more New Zealanders experienced first-hand the joys of EVs during the recent Leading the Charge road trip. A core group of 7 EVs joined the full trip, with others coming and going as the convoy travelled from Bluff to Cape Reinga. Vehicles including Teslas, Hyundai IONIQ and a next generation Nissan Leaf were available for public test drives and rides at dozens of events. This was second road trip supported by EECA, made successful by the goodwill and enthusiasm of EV-owning volunteers from the Better New Zealand Trust (BNZT). It brings the total number of rides and drives provided by BNZT so far this financial year to more than 4,000. EECA’s CE Andrew Caseley, who's tried a number of different EVs, says only way to really understand them is to get behind the steering wheel. “The commitment and enthusiasm of these volunteers is outstanding. They’re out there, welcoming dozens of strangers to have a go in their private vehicles – you can’t underestimate the impact this is having on public awareness.” |