Electric projects get $3.5m from govt to promote green transport

The Government has agreed to pay $3.5 million towards electric vehicle projects around the country to promote the greener form of transport. Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced 15 projects would be conditionally funded, as the Government seeks to meet its target of 64,000 electric vehicles on New Zealand’s roads by 2021. The projects include Foodstuffs using 28 all-electric delivery vans at its supermarkets; supporting Tranzit Group and Auckland Transport introducing electric buses and charging infrastructure; and Waste Management NZ converting three rubbish trucks to run on electricity. Collins said the Government’s contribution would cover up to 50 per cent of the funding for projects that “demonstrate and showcase lowemission vehicle technologies in highprofile, visible ways”. The chosen projects would help to normalise electric vehicle technology in this country, and could also be implemented relatively quickly. “Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel vehicles and, because they’re powered by our abundant renewable electricity supply, they will reduce the emissions that come from the country’s vehicle fleet,” Collins said. “An electric vehicle in New Zealand produces 80 per cent fewer carbon emissions than a petrol or diesel powered vehicle.”

“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel vehicles. Judith Collins