OCTOBER 2020 DELIVERIES MADE EASY WITH TRANSIT p. 10 P. 04 P. 09 P. 11 SERVICE STATION OWNER EVS & BEYOND CONFERENCE STUDENT OPTS FOR EV GOES ELECTRIC RETURNS - THE EVENT Drive your business forward with 1 EVS AND Call BEYOND Steve OCTOBER Owens 2020 now| WWW.EVSANDBEYOND.CO.NZ on 021 947 752 YOU GOTTA By Vern Whitehead, HAVE A PLAN Publisher fter the colossal failure of Kiwibuild one can understand But here’s the rub. why the government is so averse to putting numbers NZ consumers depend on a supply of used imports - largely Aaround targets. from Japan - for affordable, family transport and Japan, at the But one can also see that without targets and numbers there moment, produces precious few electric vehicles, apart from the will be little measurable progress - just commissions and the Nissan Leaf and eNV200 vans. like to review the failures. And Leaf sales in Japan are not of sufficient numbers to satisfy This is why Drive Electric should be commended and supported NZ’s appetite for affordable used imports, nor are they being in its effort to get the new government - whoever that might be - offered at ‘buy-able’ prices for Kiwi importers. to set targets for the uptake of new EVs on our roads. Again quoting the chair of Drive Electric: “Perversely, without As Mark Gilbert, chair of Drive Electric, said in responding to actively encouraging consumers to switch to EVs through tax or Labour and National’s policy announcements last month: “What other incentives, a clean car standard makes it more likely New we really need in New Zealand is an ambitious bipartisan road Zealanders will buy cheap secondhand petrol cars exported map in line with the Zero Carbon Act. from Japan or the UK, instead of EVs. “The Kiwi light fleet constitutes more than 90% of the travel on “This will lock in the number of petrol cars on our roads for NZ roads and remains a growing component of our nation’s longer, making it more difficult to meet our climate change emissions. We can’t leave transition to EVs to chance.” ambitions.” A real conundrum for whichever party will govern for the next So what is being proposed? three years. Again quoting Mark Gilbert: ”We would like the next government to work with the industry to detail how New Zealand will get to 250,000 EVs by 2025 and then move to decarbonise the entire fleet. “NZTA Data for 2019 shows that almost 60% of new passenger Vern Whitehead cars were bought by companies. Incentivising the corporate fleet PUBLISHER to transition, through initiatives (as proposed by the National Party) like this and access to bus lanes and high occupancy PS: Drive Electric’s plan to decarbonise our light fleet contains lanes, is a vital way to introduce EVs into the country. five key policy platforms, which have already been published “We would like the next government to go a step further and to in EVs & Beyond, but as part of a blueprint for the future you detail how New Zealand will then get to 250.000 EVs by 2025, can read them at https://driveelectric.org.nz/wp-content/ and then move to decarbonise the entire fleet. uploads/2020/08/DE-policy-discussion.pdf “We welcome Labour’s recommitment to the Clean Car Standard. However this is just one element of a roadmap PPS: For the record, here are the two major political parties pre- towards a light vehicle fleet that does not emit carbon. A election policies so you can hold them to account: standard needs to be supported by additional measures to Labour - https://www.labour.org.nz/energy-resources enable businesses and consumers to move into emissions-free National - https://www.national.org.nz/electric-vehicles vehicles,” adds Gilbert. — Reliable and efficient EV chargers Contact us today - [email protected] 2 EVS AND BEYOND OCTOBER 2020 | WWW.EVSANDBEYOND.CO.NZ EV POLICIES ABOUND, BUT WHERE’S THE ACTION PLAN? ational, Labour and the Green such as green hydrogen. Party have all outlined their policies Only zero emission buses will be bought by Naround EVs, renewable energy and 2025 under Labour’s aim. sustainability in the lead up to the October 17 “Transport makes up about 20% of New general election. Zealand’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions But critics, like EV advocacy group Drive and is the fastest growing source,” Labour Electric, ask where the bipartisan action leader Jacinda Ardern says. plan is, while EV dealers also suggest more She says her party will support regional EV education, EV infrastructure support and councils with the bus decarbonisation target other measures (see P26 & 27). through a $50 million fund over four years. GREEN PARTY LEADER JAMES SHAW TALKS EV In fact, some dealerships are wondering if “The next term will be focused on the POLICY AT A MEETING OF EV OWNERS AT EV CITY IN people are waiting until after the election practical steps New Zealand can take to CHRISTCHURCH. before deciding whether to buy an EV, reduce emissions and keep building on the particularly as several parties are suggesting foundations we have already put in place.” to deliver a single new policy to increase EV they will consider incentives. Labour says it will incentivise low emission uptake. “Their abandoned car tax actually The Green Party’s pledge is to make electric vehicles, possibly through a revamp of the slowed EV sales and, if implemented, would cars more affordable and practical for Kiwis. ill-fated Clean Car plan which included a have punished those who could least afford it. Co-leader James Shaw explained his party’s “feebate” scheme and an emission standard – “Exempting EVs from fringe benefit tax will Future of Transport policy to a meeting of the plan reportedly stymied by NZ First. significantly bolster the secondhand market about 60 people – mainly Christchurch EV National, meanwhile, says EVs will be exempt by giving Kiwis access to New Zealand-new, Owners group members. from FBT until 2025 to encourage fleet uptake, longer range, late model EVs.” Shaw reiterated the policy plan which and a road user charge (RUC) exemption will National believes more can be done to allow includes a national public transport smart be extended to at least 2023 under a National the shift to fully electric, plug-in hybrid card, a commitment to implement both an government. (PHEV) and hydrogen vehicles (FCEVs) sooner, updated Clean Car Standard and Clean Car Its EV policy, launched at Auckland City Electric its two-page EV plan states, possibly including Discount and a ban for the import and sale of Vehicles in Auckland, also includes setting a extending the RUC break for six years rather new ICE light vehicles by 2030. target of 80,000 EVs on the road by 2023 (four than three. The new version of the Clean Car Discount times the current level), allowing EVs to use A new EV licence plate will be introduced includes a larger discount for zero-emission bus lanes and high-occupancy lanes, and aims by National for ease of identification and to vehicles. to have a third of the government light vehicle allow EV users to access bus lanes and high- Shaw says the road user charge (RUC) fleet in EVs by 2023. occupancy vehicle lanes, which National says it exemption will apply until 64,000 EVs are on the The party’s EV package estimates the fiscal will implement immediately on state highways road, that National's EV policy is not ambitious impact at $93 million over four years. This and work with councils to have in cities if enough and that the Clean Car Discount is includes $55m over four years in lower elected after October 17. more beneficial than a fringe benefit tax (FBT) revenue from exempting EVs from FBT and The Automobile Association has joined calls for exemption. $38m over four years in electrifying the a clear roadmap for safer, greener vehicles and He’s also concerned New Zealand is “the last Government fleet. boosting the benefits of buying an EV. country on the planet” to have vehicle emission A National Government will make EVs cheaper It has highlighted 12 actions it wants the next standards. and reduce transport emissions. says National Government to take to make transport better, Labour says it plans to decarbonise Party leader Judith Collins in announcing safer and cleaner. buses by 2035 and have 100% renewable the policy alongside National’s transport “AA members aren’t just drivers - about electricity generation by 2030, accelerate the spokesperson Chris Bishop and associate 10% regularly use public transport and 13% electrification of the transport and industrial environment spokesperson Erica Stanford. consider themselves cyclists,” AA Motoring sector and invest in emerging technologies “This ambitious plan will make EVs cheaper Affairs general manager Mike Noon says. and easier to own without unfairly “Meaningful action on our transport calls taxing Kiwis,” Collins says. will result in fewer deaths and injuries on “We believe the future of the roads, less environmental harm from transport in New Zealand will be transport, less time wasted in congestion, and zero emissions. Our ambitious more enjoyable travel.” and comprehensive plan will The AA’s 12 suggested actions include reviving encourage the purchase of EVs, essential road maintenance, lifting the create a thriving secondhand standard of regional highways, targeting cell EV market, support sustainable phone use behind the wheel, giving drivers transport infrastructure, and more safe places to pass, providing more help lower carbon emissions in New for young people to become safe and licensed JUDITH COLLINS LAUNCHES THE NATIONAL PARTY’S Zealand’s transport sector.” drivers, getting the rapid transit process back EV PLAN AT AUCKLAND CITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.