National may exempt EVs from FBT

A fringe benefit tax (FBT) exemption for EVs is being considered by the National Party.

So says East Coast Bays MP Erica Stanford in addressing more than 100 people at EVtalk’s EVs and Beyond two-day conference on Waiheke Island in Auckland.

The associate emissions spokesperson for National, Stanford is critical of the Labour-led coalition government’s lack of action in boosting EV uptake, adding that many of the present goals and EV related policies were introduced under a National government.

She says National is working on other ways of “greening the fleet”, suggesting the government should set an example by transitioning as much of its Crown fleet to electric and low emissions as possible.

The aim was to have a third of the government fleet switched to EVs by 2021, but little has been achieved in that regard by the present government, she adds.

Stanford says an FBT exemption for double cab utes has seen that market grow massively, so could be switched to EVs instead to boost the latter.

Keen to get feedback, Stanford says suggestions include extending the now ended trial in using special transit and bus lanes for EVs.

A road user charge (RUC) exemption for EVs, saving an EV owner about $600 annually, could also be extended beyond the end of 2021 when it is due to come off, Stanford says.

She’d like to see EV uptake encouraged more in New Zealand, particularly through getting newer EVs into the secondhand market.