EVs part of Waikato emission reduction plan
University of Waikato EVs
Switching fleet vehicles to EVs is on the Waikato Regional Council’s agenda to cut carbon emissions.
It aims to have all its passenger vehicles EVs by 2030 amid plans to reduce carbon dioxide by 70% over 10 years.
Other methods include shifting from five offices to one in Bryce Street which will help reduce power use.
The council’s climate action committee will next meet in May to consider a regional greenhouse gas inventory measuring emissions across the region.
It has also offered a staff discount to buy electric bikes to encourage people out of cars and to reduce carbon emissions.
About 88 staff were seriously thinking about or definitely interested in buying an e-bike, planned through the NZ Transport Agency’s e-bike purchase support scheme.
A bulk discount has been negotiated by the council with a supplier and an interest free loan provided to staff to buy one with the money paid back through salary deductions.
The University of Waikato was one of the first New Zealand universities to get EVs and now has nine all-electrics and 73 hybrids – about half its fleet, with two chargers for staff and visitors at its Hamilton campus.
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