$3.5 million to get more EVs on the road

About $3.5 million has been allocated to 15 projects that will help promote electric vehicle (EV) uptake in New Zealand.

The money, from the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, aims to help the government meet its target of getting 64,000 EVs on the road by 2021, energy and resources minister Judith Collins says.

“The funding will provide up to 50% of funding for projects that will demonstrate and showcase low emission vehicle technologies in high-profile, visible ways that will help to normalise these technologies.”

Successful applicants include Foodstuffs NZ which will introduce 28 electric grocery delivery vans across its supermarket network, Green Cabs which will use the money to pilot the introduction of EVs into the taxi fleet and Counties Power for the installation of a fast charging station in Pukekohe.

There was plenty of interest in the fund, with about 80 project applications being submitted.

“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 says.

The second funding round, with up to $6 million available, is likely to open for applications in late February or March.

The fund is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Go here for more information about the fund.