The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
It's not just homes that are getting off the gas. A number of big new facilities are going all-electric, too, including the new Te Kaha / One NZ Stadium in Christchurch. As project director Kent Summerfield says, the covered 25,000 seat stadium (30,000 with the temporary seats) will run entirely on electrons, from the cooking to the heating to the ice baths to the machines required for maintenance and operation.
This makes obvious sense from an emissions reduction perspective. Christchurch City Council pushed hard for this with the stadium, but it also makes economic sense over the long-term given and it's great to see more councils making this is a requirement of any new public buildings.
The design allows for solar panels to be added in the future and there will also be charging stations for electric vehicles.
While the stadium had initially looked at buying a fossil fuel tractor to haul stuff out onto the field, in the time it's taken to be built, the technology has continued to improve and the costs have continued to fall, so it is now looking at buying an electric equivalent.
The atmosphere is going to be electric inside the stadium - and in central Christchurch - when the first game kicks off in April. And it's good to know the energy it needs will be coming from the right place.
'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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