Commercial EVs get EECA funding boost

Support for heavy and light commercial EVs have featured prominently in the latest round of grants from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Twenty organisations will receive funding from EECA’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund for projects that support the uptake of EVs, on the condition that they match or exceed EECA’s contribution.

Coda Group has received $500,000 to build an electric freight shuttle that will transport dairy products from the Fonterra Te Rapa dairy factory to the Fonterra Crawford Street freight hub in Hamilton.

It will be able to transport 58 tonnes and operate seven days a week during peak season.

“Projects like this are vital to show others in the heavy logistics and transport industry that electric trucks are not only viable but have very low running costs,” energy and resources minister Megan Woods says.

Meanwhile, Tranzit Group will receive $397,500 for the installation of a permanent fast charge unit that allows buses to “drive through” fast charge stations for buses at the Wellington Railway Station bus interchange.

Four buses would be able to be charged simultaneously.

Tranzit is introducing ten battery electric buses to central Wellington routes mid-2018, with a further 22 electric buses over the following three years.

One the light commercial front, Tourism Holdings has received funding to build an electric campervan.

Wellington’s Zealandia Karori Sanctuary Trust’s funding will go towards developing EV visitor shuttles and Kaitake Farm

intends to purchase an electric van for delivering organic vegetables in the Taranaki area.

“The projects we are funding show there’s an EV for almost every job or use in New Zealand, be it delivering fruit and veg or taking a holiday,” Woods says.

Other initiatives include $95,000 for the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO) to develop an EV servicing and repair qualifications framework and a raft of charging projects.

Projects like Foodstuff’s plan to put chargers at its New World and Pak’ n Save supermarkets aim to fill gaps in the charging network.

Locations like Kawerau, Matamata, National Park, and Pirongia in the north and Hokitika, Motueka, Westport, Reefton and Blenheim in the south will benefit.