The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
As Mike Casey told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB, while we might not be able to do much about the oil required to make the plastic pipes (and the coming price increases), we can do something to insulate ourselves against petrol and diesel price spikes.
"Have you bought Kate her EV yet?"
Around two thirds of the total energy New Zealand uses comes from fossil fuels, most of which are imported. And we've seen how risky that reliance is recently as prices went through the roof.
When you add households and their cars together as a sector, it is the biggest energy user in the country. That's why we're so focused on helping them upgrade to electric, because greater prosperity begins at home.
Our Machine Count report released last year showed there were ten million fossil fuel machines in the country. A very small number don't have electric options (yet). Some require a bit of effort to electrify. And around 8.5 million of them could be electrified economically today using current technology.
Many of those machines are vehicles and ensuring more of them run on cheaper New Zealand-made energy needs to be seen as an issue of national and economic security.
See how going electric can improve our energy security 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.
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