NZ joins global Electric Vehicle Initiative

New Zealand has joined a multi-government forum of the world’s top electric vehicle markets dedicated to accelerating EV uptake.

Membership of the Electric Vehicle Initiative (EVI) will link New Zealand into international best practice around EVs including policy, research and information sharing, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) chief executive Andrew Caseley says.

“Being part of this initiative puts New Zealand alongside the top EV markets in the world, demonstrating to industry our readiness to adopt new EV technologies,” he says.

“Transitioning our fossil-fuelled transport fleet to run on clean, renewable electricity is one of the most effective ways for New Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet our climate change commitments.

“Joining the EVI is yet another way we are signalling our intention to speed up New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

The EVI has a collective target of at least 30% of new vehicle sales by 2030.

EV registrations in New Zealand have grown at an exponential rate since 2013 and recently passed the 8000 target set for this year six months early.

EVI members include Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK, the USA and the European Union.

It is part of the Clean Energy Ministerial, a forum of the world’s largest and most forward-leaning countries working together to accelerate the global transition to clean energy.

EECA supports the Government’s Electric Vehicles Programme through an information campaign and a low emission vehicles contestable fund.