Climate Change Minister James Shaw says he is committed to encouraging the use of electric vehicles and believes the Crown car fleet can be electric powered by 2025. "The Government intends to lead from the front, moving the Crown fleet to electric over the next few years." If half the country’s vehicle fleet was electric by 2040, road transport emissions could be cut by about 40%, he said. Transport was one area where New Zealand could make a big difference relatively easily through things like electric vehicles. In May 2016, the previous government announced an electric vehicles programme aimed at increasing the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand to take advantage of renewable energy and reduce emissions.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 12, 2018 16:18 UTC