New Crown limos ‘not green enough’
GOVERNMENT ministers will soon be cruising the country in new BMWs, but if the Green Party had its way the prime minister and his entourage would be ferried around in electric cars.
The Department of Internal Affairs revealed yesterday that 32 of its fleet of 34 VIP vehicles would be replaced by new BMW 730Lds.
A official from BMW in New Zealand said the showroom cost of a 730 Ld was $200,000.
Nine vehicles were tested as part of the tender process, and of the vehicles that met the requirements the BMW had the ‘‘lowest total cost of ownership’’.
The Greens have previously called on the Government to ensure environmentally-friendly cars were bought when the warranty on the current fleet expired.
Its preferred crown limo choice is a Tesla – a high-end electric car that covers 400km in one charge. There are only a few in New Zealand but several MPs have driven in them and the Greens say they are of a high enough standard to transport foreign dignitaries.
‘‘The Government has wasted the opportunity to lead the way and start replacing the Crown fleet with electric cars, instead of buying more BMW diesels,’’ Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter said.
‘‘Questions need to be asked about whether the Government has turned down advice from the Ministry of Transport to buy electric cars.’’
Genter said ministry documents showed the Government was aware what needed to be done to reduce transport emissions but was being tight-lipped on what it was doing.
Ministerial vehicles are used for the prime minister and ministers of the Crown, Labour’s leader and deputy leader, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the judiciary and visiting dignitaries, including heads of state.
Of the nine vehicles that were tested, three were shortlisted; all had diesel engines.
The vehicles were evaluated for safety, security, reliability, comfort and space, suitability for VIPs and as a mobile office, compliance with emission standards and economy.
The new cars will be introduced from December.
‘The Government has wasted the opportunity to lead the way and start replacing the Crown fleet with electric cars.’