Businesses operating in New Zealand have committed around $265 million of investment in low-and zero-emissions transport projects – on road, off-road and on water – through the EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF) over the past decade.
The LETF, which began life in 2016 as the Low Emissions Vehicle Contestable Fund (LEVCF) is now being wound down. It has supported the rapid acceleration of energy-efficient transport technologies and reduced the risk for early adopters, including in the transport sector.
Milestone projects include the world’s first electric milk tanker (Fonterra), the first electric hydrofoil ferry in commercial operation (Vessev and Fullers 360), New Zealand’s first hydrogen-powered truck (NZ Post) and bus (Auckland Transport), the first electric double-decker buses (Tranzit, Metlink, Greater Wellington Regional Council) and first electric supermarket delivery vans (Foodstuffs).
EECA will continue to support the heavy vehicle sector to improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs through the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund, which offers grants of up to 25% of the purchase price of a new zero-emissions heavy vehicle, or 25% of the cost to convert an existing ICE vehicle to be power by zero or low-emissions technologies.
