New Zealand’s first electric milk tanker, a solar-panelled bus, electric off-road farm vehicles and new high powered EV charging stations are among projects to get co-funding from the Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF).
“The projects included in this round show the potential for electric and low-emissions transport across a wide range of sectors – from all-terrain farm vehicles to heavy freight,” says energy and resources minister Dr Megan Woods.
“Some of these are hard to decarbonise, so this is great progress towards reducing our transport emissions.
“We know it makes sense to partner with business as we continue our COVID-19 economic recovery, so we can simultaneously bring down emissions, and seize the opportunities that come from creating new jobs in new industries,” she says in announcing the recipients at Orion in Christchurch, adding that third and fourth LETF rounds will open mid-2022.
“Focusing on transport in this way will also help us reduce New Zealand’s reliance on global energy prices.”
Thirteen vehicle and technology projects will receive $3,452,025, and 13 EV charging projects will receive $3,001,400 in co-funding in the second round.
These include:
• Fonterra will operate NZ’s first electric 46T milk tanker with battery-swap technology at the Waitoa Depot, near Tauranga.
• Bayes Coachlines will build a passenger bus with solar panels providing 5-10% of its own power and designed to have greater range and less maintenance than other electric buses.
• MyFleet Rural will launch four Pickman 4WD, fully electric off-road UTVs throughout NZ at Field Days and A&P Shows.
• Firth Industries will deploy NZ’s first electric battery-swap concrete mixer truck, to operate in Penrose.
• IntDevice will work with Auckland Transport to deploy a wireless charging ground pad solution at the Ti Rakau Drive depot for an AT bus.
• Kiwi H2 has exclusively licensed a UK product ULEMCo Ltd for NZ to convert diesel vehicles to run on 40% hydrogen, aiming to save 40% emissions. This will help fleets decarbonise until commercially available and viable zero emissions options are available.
• Zenobe Australia will supplement DC charging capability in grid-constrained areas by installing second-life electric bus batteries.
A combined total of $6.45 million in government funding will go to 26 projects across the two rounds, matched by $9.03m in applicant funding, the combined investment across these projects reaching $15.49m.
“The Government expanded the scope of the LETF to increase its impact and encourage innovation in the transport sector,” Woods explains.
“These latest projects show the fund is doing what it is designed to do, with the sector embracing clean energy in some very sophisticated ways.”
As part of the LETF a significant boost to the nationwide EV charging network has also been confirmed.
Charging projects include:
• ChargeNet will install eight ultrafast chargers in the Auckland CBD, Napier, Whangārei and New Plymouth.
• ThunderGrid to install a fast charger in Masterton.
• Meridian will put two fast chargers in Christchurch.
• Jump Charging plans to provide two ultrafast chargers in the Agritech Business Park in Rakaia.
• Z Energy will install 12 ultrafast chargers at upper North Island locations.
The fund is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
The Government has co-funded more than 1200 public and private EV chargers. The 53 public chargers in this round bring the number of public chargers co-funded to 702 – 561 of which have been installed.
“The EV charging network is growing fast and should give drivers confidence an EV is a great choice, even on long-distance drives,” Woods says.
“In the last couple of years we’ve plugged gaps in places like Bombay, Kaiwaka and Tauranga.
“The focus of the LETF is now turning to ensuring any remaining gaps are filled, as we increase density in high-demand areas.”
These projects demonstrate the scale of opportunity for decarbonisation in the transport sector, says climate change minister James Shaw.
“In May, the Government will release New Zealand’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, which will be full of initiatives like these – across all sectors – to get us firmly on the path to net-zero,” Shaw adds.
An announcement will be made in advance of each funding round advising which areas of interest will be included.
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