The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Annie Jefferson from A2W is always in hot water.
Through A2W, she's a staunch advocate for hot water heat pumps, which are quickly growing in popularity here like they have in Australia, and a big supporter of the community electrification movement.
She can often be found at electrification events - from Electrify Wairarapa to Electrify the Hutt - explaining the latest tech for water and space heating and running people through the process of upgrading old cylinders or retrofitting gas systems.
Heat pump technology can significantly reduce energy bills (and the country's emissions) and she has grasped that installing them is also a big business opportunity. We're going to need a lot of trusted tradies to nail our electric transition and, as demand ramps up, the herding mentality takes hold and the community movement continues to push things in an electric direction, the business owners who embrace it early, like Jefferson, and the entrepreneurs who develop companies to solve customer problems, stand to benefit the most.
'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.
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