Zero emissions for government fleet by 2026

The Government aims to switch its vehicle fleet to zero emissions within seven years.

Nearly 30% of its 72 ministerial vehicles are electric now compared with about 2% a year ago.

There are 34 chauffeur-driven BMWs (Crown cars) and seven other non-BMW chauffeur-driven cars, five vans and 26 cars which ministers drive themselves, the NZ Herald reports.

These include 47 diesel, 16 plug-in hybrids, four battery electric, four petrol and a full hybrid.

All cabinet ministers – and the four ministers outside of cabinet – have self-drive cars and 53% of these are EVs.

About 52% of Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) owned vehicles are EVs.

“The department’s contract with BMW expires in October 2019 and later this year ourselves, along with the ministry of business, innovation and employment, will return to market to replace the Crown limousine fleet,” a DIA spokesman says.

EVs offer potentially massive environmental and cost benefits, ministerial services minister Chris Hipkins says.

“The Government is playing a leadership role and it intends to transition its full fleet – including the 32 BMW 7-series vehicles – to emissions free vehicles by 2026,” he told the NZ Herald

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Hipkins says, however, that it’s impractical to have all vehicles emissions free in the next few years.

“For example, if long-distance travel is needed, it’s currently not practical to use an emissions-free vehicle due to the lack of charging stations in remote areas.”

Climate change minister James Shaw indicated last year he’s considering increasing the number of EVs used by ministers as part of a wider push to get more people into electrics.

“Part of the problem is New Zealand lacks the strong incentives – which most other developed countries have – to sell more fuel efficient and climate-friendly cars,” he says.

Shaw has signalled new policy initiatives are coming to help increase EV uptake.