16 September 2008 Media Statement
Electric vehicles a real solution for sustainable NZ transport
News that an electric vehicle trial will take place in New Zealand next year is proof that electric vehicles are a
reality, not a pipedream, Acting Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven said today.
"The government welcomes Meridian Energy's agreement with Mitsubishi Japan and Mitsubishi New Zealand to bring a 100
percent electric "i-MiEV" into New Zealand for a trial in 2009."
Many car makers are now developing electric vehicles as the technology improves rapidly. The government believes
electric vehicles have significant potential for New Zealand, Mr Duynhoven said.
"Electric motors convert electricity to energy much more efficiently than the combustion energy can do with petrol or
diesel, so they are more environmentally friendly to begin with.
"Combined with New Zealand's predominantly renewable sources of electricity, we have the means to bring about a real
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
The New Zealand Energy Strategy and the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008 propose that New Zealand should be one of
the first nations to widely adopt plug-in hybrid and purely electric vehicles, Mr Duynhoven said.
"We've stated that electric vehicles should make up 30 percent of vehicle sales by 2030, and 60 percent of the total
light vehicle fleet by 2050."
To promote the use of renewable energy in transport, the government has set up the Vehicle Energy and Renewables Group,
made up of eight industry and research experts.
ENDS