Kiwi ‘zero emission vehicles’ office sought

Transport minister Michael Wood is being asked to consider establishing an “office for zero emission vehicles” in New Zealand.

It could be similar to what has already been operating in the United Kingdom, says Drive Electric chair Mark Gilbert, adding the call for the Kiwi office has come from the Clean Car sector leadership group.

He believes the New Zealand zero emission vehicles office could deal with everything related to it, perhaps with similar functions to the UK one.

The UK Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is “a team working across government to support the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs)”.

“We are providing support for the take-up of plug-in vehicles, as well as funding to support chargepoint infrastructure across the UK. This will contribute to economic growth and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution on our roads.”

OZEV is part of the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the UK.

Meanwhile, Gilbert expects Tesla to ramp up production and deliveries before the end of September.

With the Tesla Model Y arriving, BYD’s Atto 3, Polestar’s new models, new MG EVs due, and the Mitsubishi PHEVs, plus LDV’s EVT60 ute, Gilbert believes the next month or so could provide a good idea of how New Zealand’s EV space will look.

He expects that could lift New Zealand’s EV game after a winter hiatus which has included ongoing supply chain issues and more.

Gilbert says considerable work is also being done on New Zealand’s EV charging infrastructure.

He points to Meridian Energy’s recent announcement relating to renewable energy developments as an example of new achievements and what’s coming, especially around hydrogen.

Meridian Energy chief executive Neal Barclay says the company has maintained momentum on Hawke’s Bay wind farm Harapaki construction – due to start powering up in June 2023, and progressed a hydrogen option.

The Southern Green Hydrogen project team, a collaboration between Meridian and Contact Energy, is nearing a decision on who will be selected as the lead development partner, Meridian explains. “Two partners have been shortlisted, Woodside Energy and Fortescue Future Industries.

“Both partners are developing detailed proposals and we expect to make a final selection later this year.”