Clean Car plan kicked to kerb

The government’s ‘Clean Car’ plan, which involved a feebate scheme to subsidise low-emitting vehicles by taxing higher emitters and an average emissions cap vehicle importers would have to stick to, has reportedly been scrapped.

The scheme recently came under fire from Treasury officials who felt it would only have a small impact on overall emissions, but according to Stuff.co.nz, it was opposition from coalition-member New Zealand First that was the nail in the coffin.

Green co-leader James Shaw has previously said if NZ First blocked the policy it would make it an election issue.

“We can confirm NZ First are holding up the rollout of policy that would mean cheaper electric and hybrid cars for New Zealanders,” Shaw told Stuff.

The plan was championed by associate minister of transport Julie-Anne Genter, who even fronted the import trade at a dinner last July over the plan.

“Fuel economy standards, they are not a crazy, radical idea. New Zealand is one of only three countries in the OECD that does not have fuel economy standards,” Genter said at the time.

Genter impressed on the crowd that while the industry may not agree with the moves, in the long term it is something that must be done for future generations.

She noted to some in the ‘Green’ sector, specifically referring to former MP and now Greenpeace NZ executive director Russel Norman, the moves don’t go far enough.

The plan has mixed support from the industry, with some acceptance of the feebate scheme, but strong opposition to the emissions standard.

VIA’s David Vinsen is a strong opponent of the plan.

“We believe that that proposal is wrong on so many levels. Firstly the name, it is not about ‘Clean Cars’, that is misleading. ‘Clean Cars’ is about noxious gases and health issues,” Vinsen said.

“This is about fuel economy and efficiency.

“We think this second stage is unnecessary,” he said. “(The feebate scheme) influences demand; we will supply the stock that is necessary.

“The whole industry here is united. We don’t support policies that control supply.”

National transport spokesperson Chris Bishop called the impasse “an utter humiliation of Julie-Anne Genter” in comments to Stuff.

“Despite all the rhetoric this Government has exactly the same policy when it comes to EVs as the previous Government,” he said.

“It’s good the Government is seeing sense on the car tax which would have a negative effect on emissions and would have a punitive effect people who can’t make the switch,” he said.