Skip to main content

NZ funds low-emission vehicle take-up

The government of New Zealand is to fund 21 projects in cities such as Nelson and Tauranga which encourage low-emission transport.
By Ben Spencer March 6, 2020 Read time: 1 min
New Zealand: aiming for lower emissions (© Mykhailo Polenok | Dreamstime.com)

It will pledge NZ$3.8 million of its NZ$7 million Low Emission Vehicle Contestable Fund (LEVCF) while successful applicants will contribute a total of NZ$12m. 

LEVCF offers co-funding each year to projects that encourage the uptake of electric and low emission vehicles. Successful applicants receive as much as 50% of their project costs from the fund and must subsidise the rest themselves. 

Megan Woods, energy and resources minister says: “Transport is the biggest opportunity we have in the energy sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This government is committed to taking action on climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.”

The funding will allow projects such as Foodstuffs and ChargeNet to install public fast chargers at supermarkets, enable Cityhop to purchase 50 electric vehicles for its car-sharing service and help Northpower trial Vehicle to Grid technology at residential addresses. 

The next round of the LEVCF is open for applications on 19 March. It will include support for publicly available secure electric bike storage facilities.
 

UTC

Related Content

  • April 5, 2019
    Wellington council to install 15 EV chargers in residential areas
    Wellington City Council in New Zealand is to install 15 electric vehicle (EV) chargers in residential areas in a bid to lower transport emissions. The council is hoping that the move will enable people who do not have off-street parking and are unable to charge their vehicle at home to buy and operate an EV. Chris Calvi-Freeman, the council’s transport portfolio leader, says: “Road transport currently contributes 38% of the city’s emissions. We want to help Wellingtonians to make good, environmental
  • January 23, 2020
    Making ITS connections requires leadership
    From making the commute more bearable to saving the planet, Jim Alfred of BlackBerry Certicom believes that ITS has the capacity to drive a range of transformational opportunities – but leadership is required, he warns
  • September 8, 2017
    Low carbon vehicle technology competition winners announced at LCV 2017
    The winners securing a share of a recent US$5 million (£3.9 million) investment for low carbon development and demonstration projects in the niche vehicle sector have been announced at LCV 2017. Thirty projects have been successful in receiving grant funding from the Niche Vehicle Network competitions, collectively supported by Innovate UK, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
  • September 8, 2017
    Low carbon vehicle technology competition winners announced at LCV 2017
    The winners securing a share of a recent US$5 million (£3.9 million) investment for low carbon development and demonstration projects in the niche vehicle sector have been announced at LCV 2017. Thirty projects have been successful in receiving grant funding from the Niche Vehicle Network competitions, collectively supported by Innovate UK, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).