The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Mike Casey: "Once we get through this short-term crisis and we have a bit more understanding of where the future is taking us, we have to build back electric. We need to focus on New Zealand-made energy. That's the ticket to our prosperity."
Rewiring CEO and Electric Orchardist Mike Casey appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast recently and talked about how the crisis in Iran has created a 'tipping point' for electric vehicle adoption and the latest figures show almost one quarter of all new cars sold in March had plugs.
Right now, petrol and diesel prices are the primary concerns and while the long-term solution is clear - electrify as many of our 4.3 million light vehicles and as many of our bigger machines as possible - the short-term response is more around reducing demand. That's why he's in favour of public transport incentives in the cities.
High power prices are less of an issue right now (in part because we are not reliant on gas to set the price, unlike some places in Asia and Europe that have seen electricity prices spike as well), but price rises have been in the headlines a lot. This is leading to more homes and businesses than ever investing in solar, something we would like to see a lot more of.
When it comes to solar, EVs and other electric appliances, the upfront cost remains the biggest barrier. Casey says it's worth exploring financing solar through your mortgage or a low-interest green loan as it's an economic slam dunk, but we also need finance solutions for those who don't have that option and would benefit massively from the savings, like pensioners.
The Government has a policy in front of it right now - the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme - that could reduce costs by $1,000-2,000 per year, including paying back the loan. We're hopeful the Government might push it through given the price increases in other areas but, if not, as Chris Chang said in his intro, energy is likely to be a major point of the upcoming election in November.
See our New Zealand-made energy plan here
'Twas the night before Chris-mas, and all through the house, all the voters were stirring, the pundits showing their nous … the election will soon be over, but the energy crisis won't, so we'll be there to pester whoever is in power about the need to run more of the economy on New Zealand-made energy; can Ethiopia's aggressive push for EVs work and how does New Zealand compare in terms of adoption rates?; a two-way charging trial from Genesis shows promise in Auckland, but there's still a way to go before it's mainstream; small electric vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to electrifying transport, but it's hard to miss this weird French one; a solar-powered cafe (and some electric coffee); and we endorse the political vandalism of Keith of All Trades.
Read moreDownloadPoliticians are being urged to adopt stronger electric vehicle incentives ahead of the election. Climate and energy advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa is arguing that EVs are one of the most effective long-term solutions for rising transport and energy costs. They're promoting an EV Salary Boost proposal, which would allow workers to access EVs through pre-tax salary arrangements – similarly to already existing schemes in the UK and Australia. Policy and Government Relations Spokesperson Ngaio Neumegen told Kerre Woodham that even with the rising cost of power, it's still cheaper to run an EV than a car running on imported fuel.
A proposal that would let New Zealanders lease an electric car using their before-tax pay has not won a commitment from either National or Labour, with the 7 November election days away. Under the EV Salary Boost, put forward by Rewiring Aotearoa and Drive Electric, an employee would lease a new or used EV for three to five years. The payments would come out of their pay before tax, lowering the cost of running the car. The idea is based on Australia’s novated leasing system, though the groups say they are not proposing a direct copy.
Read moreDownload
