Masterton adopts electric first fleet policy

An “electric first” fleet purchase policy has been adopted by the Masterton District Council.

The unanimous decision by councillors to phase out diesel and petrol fleet vehicles and replace them with EVs has been applauded by Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson who says it’s a start towards combating climate change, the Wairarapa Times Age reports.

The decision is expected to encourage others in the district and further afield to do something similar.

Funding applications will be lodged with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Crown Loans to help fund the EVs and infrastructure.

Masterton is part of the Wellington Region Electric Vehicle Working Group, convened by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which coordinates the promotion of EVs and charging infrastructure development.

The working group produces an update every six months. Greater Wellington aims to the first New Zealand city with an all-electric bus fleet. It has also issued a 30-page paper around its EV policy with an action sheet to help others electrify their fleets.

Last year, the Greater Wellington Regional Council published an informative paper at gw.govt.nz/electric-vehicles

explaining how fleet managers can feasibly go electric, which has led to several other councils following the same approach.

It has more than seven EVs, and the nine councils in its area operate about 500-600 vehicles. Two district health boards have about the same number as the councils combined.

The regional council adopted an electric vehicle first policy in 2016 and the Wellington City Council has also opted to increase its EVs.