7. DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What steps is the Government taking to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
The Government is announcing today that we will be exempting light electric vehicles from road-user charges for an initial period of 4 years. This is to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles as commercialisation of this technology progresses. The policy will come into effect on 1 October this year and will apply until 2013, when we will reassess the initiative.
How will increasing the number of electric vehicles in our fleet help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
The combination of highly efficient electric motors with our competitive advantage in renewable electricity generation will reduce the greenhouse gases produced by the transport sector, as well as the harmful emissions that affect air quality. Electric cars can also decrease our reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Government sees private vehicles as continuing to be the most significant method of transportation for most New Zealanders. It is important that we encourage the use of affordable fuel technologies in order to help meet our environmental obligations over time.