NZ’s EV progress discussed

A need to increase electric vehicle uptake and reduce emissions from the light vehicle fleet in particular has been expressed by associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter.

This came during discussions with the Electric Vehicles Leadership Group meeting in Wellington on June 12 in which EV initiatives are seriously being considered.

“Minister Genter sought the group’s thinking on the EV market and had a lively discussion with us on initiatives she is thinking about,” group members David Vinsen and Mark Gilbert say.

The minister noted work she is doing to progress a potential discussion paper on low-emissions vehicle initiatives, they add.

“We hope to hear more from the minister in the near future.”

The EV Leadership Group was formed by the previous government in 2016 to champion its EV programme aiming to double the number of EVs on New Zealand roads annually to reach 64,000 by 2021 and promote other wide-ranging initiatives.

The 10-member group shares information between central and local government and industry, providing feedback to test ideas and decisions before they are put into practice.