Drive Electric wants 250,000 EVs by 2025
EV advocacy group Drive Electric wants political parties contesting the September 19 general election to commit to decarbonising road transport and do more to encourage EV uptake.
It suggests 250,000 EVs need to be on the road here within five years, among five key policy platforms for the next government to meet climate change targets under the Zero Carbon Act.
The recommendations include encouraging businesses to get EVs for their fleets, using more EVs in government to show leadership, developing a bi-partisan pathway for the transport sector to deliver New Zealand’s climate change objectives, encouraging more Kiwis to move to EVs and making New Zealand an attractive global EV market.
“New Zealand must reduce emissions by around 60% by 2030 to stay within 1.5 degrees of warming, the target contained in the Zero Carbon Act,” Drive Electric chairman Mark Gilbert says.
“Road transport is the second largest source of emissions in New Zealand,” he adds.
“In New Zealand, the light fleet constitutes more than 90% of the travel on New Zealand roads. “Therefore, e-mobility is an essential part of our transport future, and New Zealand is ideally suited given our high proportion of renewable energy.
“We need a bi-partisan target and pathway to create certainty and guide the investment in e-mobility,” Gilbert explains.
Gilbert says there are many advantages to New Zealand embracing e-mobility.
New Zealand will be less reliant on foreign oil, there will be less air pollution and over time families will save money spent on fuel and vehicle operating costs, he says.
“We will also avoid becoming a dumping ground for second-hand fossil fuel vehicles, as other countries move towards emissions-free vehicles.”
Active and public transport will also form an important part of a future transport system that is safe, healthy, accessible, resilient and decarbonised, Drive Electric states.
Climate action group the 1.5 Project founder and investment consultant Dr Paul Winton says reaching 250,000 EVs in the fleet by 2025 is a realistic prospect.
“If New Zealand is to achieve EV adoption rates similar to what Norway has today for new-to-fleet vehicles by 2025, this would result in 250,000 EVs in the light fleet,” Winton says.
“The transition for New Zealand will be easier than when Norway started 10 years ago. EVs are becoming less expensive and more capable,” Winton says.
“By 2025 there will be no clear reason for consumers or businesses not to buy EVs.”
Drive Electric says the policies were devised by its membership which represents the full e-mobility ecosystem, including electricity companies, automotive manufacturers, and finance companies, supported by key stakeholders and external experts such as Winton, economist Shamubeel Eaqub, and sustainability consultant James Walker.
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I think that’s more than three times the number in Tony Seba’s “High Disruption” scenario. ie eye wateringly high
Hi
Your shared desire to get more EV’s into NZ asap is the answer.
To help get this goal the NZTA needs to allow those New Zealanders who choose to, to be able to import LHSTEER vehicles manufactured in USA et al, into New Zealand as soon as available. Currently all USA EV’s will be and are currently delayed at least a year and more while we wait for the converted models, with RHSTEER, to be made. The more popular the vehicle the longer we wait.
Driving a LHSTEER vehicle in NZ is no problem for drivers who want this and no danger to other toad users. We own an example of the largest car made in USA in 1962 which is LHSTEER. It is no problem to drive in New Zealand even driven where we live in the Coromandel, where road width and corners would arguably be a problem. They’re not.
Those who would with permission make these imports would join the thousands of LHSTEER Classic American car drivers who drive safely in NZ
We’ve ordered a Cybertruck Trimotor, maybe our last vehicle purchase, and see a long wait for the RHSTEER model. I know the rules currently won’t permit this importation until the steering side change is made by Tesla. Rules can be changed, or modified as they’re not set in stone, although one wonders about that often.
Who and how can this exemption be changed? It would not force anyone to have to have this variation, however would show that drivers cause accidents through a raft of factors. and I believe not one caused by which side a steering wheel is placed in the vehicle.
Regards
Gordon Peterson.