The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
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The Government is pushing ahead with its drive to deliver 10,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargers by 2030, opening a second round of zero-interest loans to encourage private sector investment in charging infrastructure, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Energy Minister Simeon Brown have announced. “Many Kiwis are interested in making the switch to an EV to cut down on fuel costs or their carbon footprint, but we continue to hear concerns about access to public chargers, especially for longer journeys outside main centres,” Mr Bishop says.
“Before this Government began addressing the issue, New Zealand had just over 1,800 public charge points – one of the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD.
“It’s a classic chicken-and-egg situation. Companies are reluctant to invest in new charging infrastructure until there are more EVs on the road, while many people are hesitant to buy an EV until they know charging will be readily available.
“That’s why we’re taking practical steps to unlock greater private investment, expand the public charging network, and give New Zealanders the confidence they need to make the switch. It’s another example of National fixing the basics and building the future.”
National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFFCo) will shortly release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the second round of concessionary loans for public EV charging infrastructure. Around $21 million will be available for charge point operators seeking co-investment to deliver portfolios of public charging sites across New Zealand.
Applications will be assessed through an open procurement process focused on delivering the greatest value for money and the strongest contribution to the growth of New Zealand’s public charging network.
The second funding round builds on the successful first round of concessionary loans announced in March, which will deliver 2,574 new charge points through partnerships with ChargeNet and Meridian Energy.
“Round one demonstrated strong market demand for the programme and showed concessionary loans can successfully unlock significant private sector investment,” Mr Bishop says.
“The projects already underway will more than double New Zealand’s public charging network and represent a major step towards achieving our long-term infrastructure goals. By 2030, our target is to have 10,000 public charge points across the country, providing roughly one charger for every 40 EVs.”
Mr Brown says rolling out EV chargers will reduce range anxiety for EV drivers.
“New Zealanders will make the best choices for their own circumstances, as we are seeing with the greater uptake of EVs without unnecessary subsidies from taxpayers.
“With actions like loans for public EV chargers, the Government is helping provide the infrastructure and settings to broaden those choices.
“The additional funding will accelerate charger deployment and give the market greater confidence to invest.
“Concessionary loans lower the cost of capital and help overcome the challenge that charging infrastructure often needs to be built before demand is fully established.
“By partnering with the private sector, we’re bringing forward investment, getting more chargers into communities sooner, and ensuring taxpayers receive good value for money.
“This is just one of a number of actions the Government is taking to encourage electrification in New Zealand and to give New Zealanders more control over their power bills and energy use.
“In addition to actions to put downward pressure on power bills, we are:
'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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