The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
"Driving around New Zealand on locally-made electrons should be cheaper than driving around New Zealand on foreign-sourced molecules." And with proposed changes to the Road User Charges system, which Mike Casey discussed with RNZ's Eloise Gibson, it will be.
We've been asked a lot of questions about changing to a system based on distance rather than paying fuel excise at the pump and our number crunching has shown that over three million petrol cars (including hybrids) will now pay more, while just a few big petrol cars will pay less. Electric vehicles were already paying RUCs, so this levels the playing field and make EVs the cheapest option - and much cheaper over their lifetime. In our policy manifesto we ranked this change as a 4/10 in terms of impact.
It’s important to remember that no fossil fuel car is efficient when you compare it to an electric one and this change creates a stronger economic signal to choose electrons over molecules when the time comes. We can't 'hybrid' our way to a zero emissions vehicle fleet, just as we can't 'efficiency' our way to a zero-emissions economy.
People should pay for the impact they have, so a large, heavy 4x4 should pay more for its impact on roads than a small hatchback, as should large trucks pay more than cars.
There are also plenty of external impacts on society from the emissions and other effects of vehicles that should be economically accounted for, too. And there is still time to design that in to this system.
Read our full statement 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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