IRD to get 33 EVs

Inland Revenue will get $1.015 million to cover a portion of the costs of replacing 33 internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with EVs and to install charging infrastructure.

The IRD will also invest nearly a million of its own funding, the project helping towards the government’s goal of a 100% low-emissions fleet by 2025-2026.

It will also accelerate the IRD’s longer-term plan of a reduced fleet comprising 100% low-emissions vehicles.

The announcement is part of a package of six new projects supported by the government’s clean-powered public service fund, climate change minister James Shaw says.

Also receiving support are the University of Canterbury ($6.240m), Auckland University of Technology ($1.290m), New Zealand Defence Force ($3.840m), and MidCentral ($0.216m) and Lakes District ($0.092m) health boards, upgrading key parts of their operations to run on clean energy.

Most involve changing coal-fired boilers to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

MidCentral will also replace three ICE vehicles with battery electric alternatives and install charging infrastructure.

“The projects will reduce state sector carbon emissions by an estimated 14,730 tonnes annually and help lower New Zealand’s dependence on fossil fuel. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 6000 petrol vehicles off the road,” Shaw says.

The projects are the second to be announced under the $200 million clean-powered public service fund, which is part of the government’s New Zealand Upgrade.

“Upgrading our public services to run on clean energy is a hugely important part of the work this government is doing to create jobs and tackle the climate crisis,” Shaw says.

“For too long, we have relied on climate-polluting fuels to keep parts of our public organisations running.”

The clean-powered public service fund is helping hospitals, schools and other public organisations become clean and climate-friendly – by moving to low-emission vehicle fleets and heating for buildings, and energy efficient lighting.