Urgency needed to implement ‘Clean Car Plan’: Drive Electric

Electric vehicle advocacy group Drive Electric hopes to see the consultation process move quickly on the Government’s proposed ‘Clean Car Plan’ and the feebate style scheme introduced “sooner rather than later”.

The group has long pushed for such a plan and Drive Electric chairman Mark Gilbert says it’s a great step forward.

“It’s good to have some sort of emissions protocol in New Zealand as we’ve never had this.

“I think this is good and would like it to go further.

“A lot of people don’t really know what sort of emissions their vehicle produces – whether clean or dirty – so an education process could be put in place.

“Perhaps it (emission testing) could be part of the warrant of fitness process every couple of years.”

Gilbert says most car companies will already have an idea of their vehicles’ emissions because they have to comply with standards and policies in other countries.

“It’s more the older fleet – five or six years plus – that might need a green or red card.”

Gilbert says the ‘Clean Car Plan’ could help people decide what their next car will be.

He believes fringe benefit tax (FBT) still has relevance in the coming discussions around the plan, as well as general depreciation.

Servicing costs may also need to be considered as EVs generally have far fewer moving parts and therefore reduced maintenance or servicing requirements.

Gilbert hopes to see the consultation process move quickly (it runs for six weeks) so that the policy can be introduced “sooner rather than later” following suggestions it could be implemented in 2021.