Electric_Traction

ELECTRIC TRACTION - A PANACEA FOR NEW ZEALAND's OIL DEPENDENCE

Can our future catch up with the present? Can transport emissions be reduced?

 

Electric traction technologies are a key to improving New Zealand's national energy security as well as dealing with the environmental fall out from fossil fuel usage. Developments in electric traction, energy storage and control systems technologies have made electric traction for light, medium and heavy vehicles technically feasible. Mainstreaming electric traction will make it commercially viable.

 

Electric traction vehicles include battery electric vehicles, whether they are vehicles intended for neighbourhoods, urban passenger transit, or extended range vehicles. By using electric traction, these vehicles consume much less (hybrid vehicles) or no fossil fuels (battery operated electric vehicles), belching less or no pollutants and greenhouse gases in the process of transportation. Electric traction technologies complement New Zealand's efforts to progressively rely on an electricity system based on renewable sources - our clean, green power.

In its briefing to the incoming Minister the Ministry for Environment reported that New Zealand had the following ranking in emissions per unit of GDP:

Type of emission	NZ's OECD Ranking
Sulphur dioxide	11th highest
Nitrogen Oxide	5th highest
Greenhouse gases	5th highest

Transport sector's share of these emissions has been estimated at 20%. Manawatu Tram Trust urges Parliament and Government to transform national fuel consumption by providing meaningful incentives for the adoption of mature electric traction technologies and foster the development of more strategic electric traction options. A commitment to ensure universal access to electricity charging infrastructure is a pre-requisite for uptake of electric vehicles on any discernible scale.

 

Vision, supported by coordinated policy, effective communication, leadership and commitment in the legislature, executive as well as "buy in" from mostly well disposed people in New Zeland will help us achieve global leadership in bringing clean transport technologies to the mainstream. This taken in the context of the overwhelming desire of New Zealanders demonstrated during recent public consultation conducted by the Ministry for Environment. In establishing New Zealand's emission targets 2020 we urge the Ministry to enlarge its Complementary policies advocacy by proposing incentives for not just electric cars but also medium and heavy electric vehicles. At least 20% of the New Zealand transport fleet will come up for replacement in the next decade or so; pragmatism in policy should therefore include retrofits as this will broaden the base of electric traction adoption.

 DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT

Government’s critical role cannot be understated.  To engender private sector investment, support product development and commercialisation of electric transport technologies require political will and communications capability that is beyond the private sector. Government needs to make a robust case for the future catching up with the present. Government could:

• Dedicate a new fund for development and commercialisation of electric traction technologies for urban passenger transport, forklifts and neighbourhood delivery vehicles
• Extend road user charges waiver to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
• Establish market incentives that would accelerate adoption of clean technologies
• Establish a vehicle operator subsidy to foster adoption of electric traction and associated technologies 
• Establish a fiscal incentives programme for uptake of electric vehicles
• Establish incentives and funding for sustainable micro electricity generation projects
• Establish incubation support for emerging technology clusters
• Review public transport tendering process and existing contracts to provide incentives for low and zero emission vehicles
• Accelerate government fleet conversion to electric traction through meaningful emission reporting and preferential procurement policies 
• Declare Palmerston North a Clean City and Manawatu a Green Transport Region to pilot adoption of electric traction technologies in the light, medium and heavy vehicle sectors

  

COSTS OF OPERATING FOSSIL FUEL POWERED TRANSPORT

Costs associated with the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference Bill) will impact carbon emitting  fleet operating costs starting 2011. This in addition to the road user charges proposed in the Government Policy Statement could add a further burden on beleaguered transport operators.

Encouraging alternative propulsion appears to be the economic and logical course of action when faced with increasing operation costs.

 

FUNDING

Funding a regional initiative can no longer rely on the provisions of the PTMA 2008 for a Regional Fuel Tax. The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding (GPS) 2009 provides for some flexibility in raising new funds under the principle of hypothecation. Extending the principle to fund a regional initiative would be feasible.

The amended Land Transport Management Act 2003 provides a mandate to the Minister in preparing the GPS. It requires him to be satisfied that the GPS ensures environmental sustainability and is consistent with the national energy efficiency and conservation strategy. This empowers the Minister to initiate the next steps to pilot a Green transport strategy for Manawatu as a model for New Zealand.

"MG" Gopalan

Project Manager

Audience: Regional Transport Committee, District Councils - Palmerston North, Tararua, Manawatu, Rangitikei, Horizons Regional Council, Minister of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, Ministry for Environment, Vision Manawatu, Members of the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce, Community