NZ’S NEWS SOURCE FOR ELECTRIC, INTELLIGENT AND AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION JULY 2019 .CO.NZ X RAY HEADS TO EVWORLD INSIDE ‘Clean Car’ feebate 3 EVworld heats up 6 E-bike road test 16 Drive your business forward with Call Steve Owens now on 021 947 752 FOUNDATIONSPONSORS EVTalk acknowledges the support of our foundation sponsors: EVtalk Magazine is published by Auto Media Group Limited., 8/152 Quay Street, P.O. Box 10 50 10, Auckland City, 1030. Ph. 09 309 2444. EDITOR Geoff Dobson 021 881 823 [email protected] BUSINESS MANAGER - EVTALK James Henderson 021 778 745 [email protected] RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST/ PRODUCTION Fran Da Silva 021 933 279 [email protected] GROUP GENERAL MANAGER/ EV PLANNER Deborah Baxter 027 530 5016 [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR Richard Edwards 021 556 655 [email protected] PUBLISHER Vern Whitehead 021 831 153 [email protected] Auto Media Group Limited makes every endeavour to ensure information contained in this publication is accurate, however we are not liable for any losses or issues resulting from its use. Printed by: Alpine Printers. evtalk.co.nz evtalk.com.au autotalk.co.nz autotalk.com.au transporttalk.co.nz transporttalk.com.au wheeltalk.co.nz 2 | EVTALK JULY 2019 | www.evtalk.co.nz NEWSTALK ‘Clean car’ plan paves way for EVs lectric vehicle uptake in New Zea- sold in New Zealand for the first land has been given a boost with time. Econsultation open until August 20 “Discounts will be financed on a “clean car plan”. in the fairest way possible – by It proposes feebate type incentives putting a small fee on the highest for zero or low emission producing light polluting vehicles when they’re vehicles (small/medium cars, SUVs, vans sold in New Zealand for the first and utes). time. This means people will still Mark Gilbert Julie Anne Genter Fraser Whineray EV advocates and energy companies have choice, while contributing are among those to support the proposal to the task of cleaning up the vehicles Such changes would stop more than which will see high emitting vehicles coming into New Zealand.” five million tonnes of climate changing charged up to $3000 to enter the fleet Vehicles already registered here would gases entering the atmosphere and – and up to an $8000 bonus offered on be exempt when on-sold in the second- make a major contribution to meeting lower emitters. hand market (about 70% of vehicles sold New Zealand’s climate targets, Genter For new or near-new plug-in cars, annually). says, adding benefits would flow into the battery electrics would receive an The two policies in the plan are the second-hand market too. $8000 rebate, plug-in hybrids $6800 “clean car discount and the “clean car She says the plan could save NZ and hybrids $4800, under the plan standard”. more than $3.4 billion in fuel and bring in announced by associate minister of The discount policy is aimed at excess of $6800 fuel savings over the life transport Julie Anne Genter. reducing the cost of low emission of an average vehicle. But no vehicles over $80,000 would vehicles – offering discounts for them and Distributors and importers could receive a discount – locking out many placing fees on high emission vehicles at group to balance their C02 levels – EVs currently on offer. the point of sale. for example; the Giltrap Group could While the highest penalty for a new The “clean car discount” could start in partner one of its supercar brands with a vehicle is $3000, used import cars 2021 when the road user charges (RUC) brand that predominately imports small would sit on a different scale – with a exemption for EVs is due to expire. The or electric cars. New car distributors maximum fee of $1500, and a maximum “clean car standard” is a vehicle fuel could also essentially “borrow” future discount of $2600. efficiency standard requiring importers emissions cuts, a way of recognising “The cars, utes and vans we use every to reduce the average emissions of new steps in technology are made every five day are also the fastest growing source of and used vehicles they are bringing in, to 10 years. harmful climate pollution and account for meeting an annual emission target likely Years where the company undercuts nearly 70% of our transport emissions,” to be phased in. the average could also be banked for Genter says. From 2021, vehicle importers would future years. “Most Kiwis want to buy a car that’s have to report emissions of the vehicles Distributors and used vehicle traders good for the environment, but tell us the they import, then in 2022 the average will be supplied an online tool to assist upfront cost and limited choice makes it a emission target would be 161 grams in calculating their levels; they will be challenge. of carbon dioxide per kilometre with required to submit data on the fleet “This is about making cleaner cars a stricter targets set annually to reach they sold each year to the NZ Transport realistic choice for more New Zealanders 105g CO2/km in 2025. Targets beyond Agency for verification. – by reducing the upfront cost of electric, that year would be established by future While utes make up the bulk of the hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles when governments. Continued on page 4 — Smarter Mobility For transport of the future, today www.abb.com/evcharging EVTALK JULY 2019 | www.evtalk.co.nz | 3 NEWSTALK ‘Clean car’ plan paves way for EVs Continued from page 3 Whineray says the proposals benefit with all the Government’s proposals, it new vehicle fleet, the government Kiwi drivers, as powering EVs with is keen to ensure that it is successful in appears convinced this will mitigate itself renewable electricity at an equivalent reducing CO2 emissions from the light over time – noting quotes from Toyota of 30c per litre compared with petrol vehicle fleet. that it will be “electrifying” every model will significantly reduce household He says the MIA is also disappointed by 2025, and that Great Wall is set to energy costs. to see that a sliding scale FBT regime launch an electric ute in New Zealand. “Research shows that the and better depreciation rates are not up EV advocacy group Drive Electric overwhelming majority of New for consideration, as these two policies hopes to see the consultation process Zealanders see electric vehicles as the in combination with a clean car discount, move quickly on the Government’s way forward, with almost half of adult would have a huge impact on accelerating proposed “clean car” plan and the New Zealanders considering purchasing the uptake of lower emission vehicles. feebate style scheme introduced an EV in the next two years. These new Wellington mayor Justin Lester backs “sooner rather than later”. proposals will help car buyers make the the proposals. “Every other OECD country The group has long pushed for such best choices.” has fuel efficiency standards except New a plan and Drive Electric chairman Mark Vector is ready for the switch, Zealand, Russia and Australia. It has been Gilbert says it’s a great step forward. already trialling multiple 50kW rapid EV very effective at driving down emissions “It’s good to have some sort of chargers across Auckland to cater to and ensuring a wider range of low emissions protocol in New Zealand as the region’s growing fleet of EVs and emission vehicles is sold.” we’ve never had this. to build understanding of how charging Genuine Vehicle Imports (GVI) group “A lot of people don’t really know what technology interacts and impacts on the general manager Hayden Johnston says sort of emissions their vehicle produces – electricity network, its chief networks it’s great that New Zealand is following whether clean or dirty – so an education officerAndre Botha says. the lead of other countries successfully process could be put in place. It has also invested in software running a feebate system that is tried and “Perhaps it [emission testing] could management systems to help reduce proven, and has dramatically increased be part of the warrant of fitness process the impact residential EV chargers have the number of EVs in their national fleets. every couple of years.” on peak demand, and is exploring the “A generous subsidy for new EVs and Gilbert says most car companies potential of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and PHEVs will encourage manufacturers will already have an idea of their vehicle-to-home (V2H) chargers. to offer more of their model range in vehicles’ emissions because they have EV seller Martin Harwood of Harwood New Zealand and we will hopefully step to comply with standards and policies Cars is concerned New Zealand may outside the clutches of Australia’s anti- in other countries. be “sitting around” for two years to EV influence,” he says. “It’s more the older fleet – five or six implement the plan while other countries “Used sales will also benefit dramatically years-plus – that might need a green or scoop up EV stock. He would rather it as the rebate will not only be a cash red card.” takes effect as soon as possible. incentive but can actually enable some Gillbert says the “clean car plan” could The Energy Efficiency and people to get into a cleaner and safer help people decide what their next car Conservation Authority (EECA) welcomes vehicle than they normally would using the will be. the move, saying it could be a major rebate amount as a deposit on finance. He believes fringe benefit tax (FBT) still step for the transport sector and for “My only concern is that if passed and has relevance in coming discussions, as transitioning New Zealand to a low- a firm date is announced, how far out will well as general depreciation.