Largest round of EV related funding announced

Electric trucks and EV charging are among 29 projects worth a combined $16.5 million to benefit from the sixth round of the Government’s low emission vehicles contestable fund.

It’s the largest boost so far, according to energy and resources minister Megan Woods, announcing on August 15 the successful applicants at Blackwell Motors in Christchurch, which has received co-funding to purchase and trial an electric truck to loan to its clients.

“These grants will include $4.5 million of Government funding, matched by $12 million from the private sector,” Woods says, adding that round seven applications open on August 16.

“Smart investments like this are why under this Government the number of electric vehicles on our roads has nearly tripled. In October 2017, we had 5363 registered EVs compared to 15,453 now.

“With transport making up 19% of our emissions, this is a key part of our plan to tackle climate change.”

The latest fund focus is to continue to improve public EV charging infrastructure, increase use of electric heavy vehicles, and invest in innovative technology such as smart charging.

“We want to make it easier than ever for New Zealanders to get around in low emissions vehicles,” Woods says.

Successful sixth round project applicants include:

• KiwiRail for EV charger installation on three Interislander ferries for passengers to use in-transit.
• Dempsey Wood Civil and KAM Transport to purchase and trial the integration of electric trucks into their businesses.
• Kiwi Property to install 42 public EV chargers at popular shopping malls in Auckland and Hamilton (Sylvia Park, The Base, Centre Place)
• Holiday Parks to provide 30 public double EV chargers (two cars can charge at a time) at its camping grounds throughout New Zealand.
• ChargeNet NZ to install New Zealand’s first high power charging hub at Bombay to deliver up to 350kW per vehicle for a maximum four vehicles at once.

Round seven applicants are challenged by Woods to explore opportunities created by the new investment focus, which maintains support for the public EV charging network and low emission vehicles in a range of sectors while also targeting smart charging technology innovation, battery refurbishment, recycling and repurposing, and demonstration of low emission vehicles in mobility-as-a-service.

In total, the fund has committed $20.9 million in government funding to 120 projects, matched by $40.7 million applicant funding.

A further $3.1 million in government funding is available under this round.

Starting in round eight, opening in February 2020, the investment focus will also include support for publicly available secure electric bike storage facilities.

More information on the new investment focus is available here.

The fund is one of several initiatives in the Government’s Electric Vehicles Programme and is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Visit www.eeca.govt.nz/funding-and-support/low-emission-vehicles-contestable-fund/  or email LEVFund@eeca.govt.nz for more information on the fund.