In this newsletter we update you on the work Government is doing to support the sector on growing the number of electric vehicles on New Zealand roads. No Images? Click here Electric Vehicle News Electric Vehicle News In this newsletter we update you on the work Government is doing to support the sector on growing the number of electric vehicles on New Zealand roads.
$3m funding to power up more EV projects Electric vehicle projects are charging and trucking along with 15 new initiatives funded to deliver more charging facilities for electric vehicles and switch more trucks, buses and vans to electric power. The projects are to be funded under the second round of the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund. Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins announced today that the projects were awarded $3 million with applicants matching or exceeding the amounts granted. “The projects we announced today show there’s an electric vehicle for almost every job, be it rental cars, waste trucks or delivery vans. These options make more sense because of how cheap electric vehicles are to run and maintain and how easy they are to charge,” Ms Collins said. “We are investing nearly $1 million in charging infrastructure with projects on key tourism routes including Christchurch to Picton, Dunedin to Queenstown, and Queenstown to Invercargill. “Also in the mix are exciting developments such as installing street charging for Wellington residents who don’t have a driveway or garage, and chargers that give buses a boost as they stop for passengers. “The fund projects will add further momentum in New Zealand where more and more people and businesses are making the switch to electric vehicles.” Read the Minister's release and see more about the projects here. More funding available The third round of it the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund with $3 million available is now open. Applicants for the third funding round have until Wednesday 27 September 2017 to submit their proposals to EECA. “The first two rounds of the fund were all about high visibility projects to get the electric vehicle story out to the New Zealand public,” Energy Minister Judith Collins said. “For the next round we are looking for projects that can be replicated across the country. We want to see projects that support practical, sustainable ways to increase uptake particularly in the light fleet market, close gaps in charging infrastructure and demonstrate the uses of heavy electric vehicles across the economy.” The fund will offer up to 50 per cent funding towards projects. Applicants must match or exceed the amounts granted. For more information visit our website.
Previous fund project delivering the goods A new fleet of 100 percent electric vans is cruising around New Zealand, branded with New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square logos. Foodstuffs New Zealand officially launched the fleet at the start of the month. The company was awarded $500,000 by EECA from the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund to implement a project that involved importing 28 electric vans from the UK. Sustainability Manager for Foodstuffs New Zealand Mike Sammons says the van rollout complements the electric vehicle fast charging points that are being installed in a number of stores. “We already have fast charge stations at the New World stores in Otaki, Warkworth, Te Kuiti and Kumeu in the North Island and Northwood in the South Island, we anticipate another half dozen will be installed over the next year or so. We see these charging stations as an important community resource. They will become increasingly useful to our customers as more New Zealanders transition over to electric vehicles over the coming years.” With their brightly coloured branding, the Foodstuffs vans are highly visible on the road. Sammons says they’ll be a talking point in the 28 communities they are being distributed to around New Zealand. EV registrations continue to rise EV registrations in New Zealand are now above 4,000 meaning the goal for 2017 has already been passed. As of last week the number of all EV registrations has reached 4,250 with more than 200 additional vehicles typically being registered monthly.
Heavy EV RUC exemption From 1 September 2017, heavy EVs will be exempt from road user charges until they make up 2 per cent of New Zealand’s heavy vehicle fleet. In addition, changes have also been made to land transport rules to enable road controlling authorities to make bylaws to allow EVs access to special vehicle lanes, such as those dedicated to buses and high occupancy vehicles. |