The Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF) has announced its final rounds, after a decade-long run supporting low- and zero-emissions transport projects across New Zealand.
The fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), supported 359 projects with over $100 million in public co-funding and helped unlock more than $265 million in private capital.
The final co-funding — rounds 14, 15 and 16 — were confirmed this week, marking the end of the LETF, which began as the Low Emission Vehicle Contestable Fund (LEVCF) in 2016 and was expanded in 2021 under its current name.
EECA delivery and partnerships group manager Richard Briggs says the LETF has played a critical role in accelerating the country’s transition to cleaner transport technologies.
“The programmes demonstrated the benefits for business in making the switch to low or zero-emissions vehicles, machines, and vessels, showing others in their sectors what’s possible and viable.”
The LETF has unlocked an “extraordinary amount” of private capital for projects that would not have happened as quickly or at all, as well as lowered organisations’ operating costs by improving energy efficiency and productivity, Briggs says.
Notable projects supported through the LETF include the world’s first electric milk tanker (Fonterra), electric hydrofoil ferry (Vessev and Fullers360), New Zealand’s first hydrogen-powered truck (NZ Post), and its first electric double-decker buses (Tranzit and Metlink). The fund also backed early adoption of electric supermarket delivery vans and co-funded roughly half of the country’s 1300-plus public EV chargers, including the first high-speed DC units by ChargeNet.
With rapid market progress reducing the need for early-stage support, Briggs says the LETF had reached a “natural end”.
However, EECA’s support for emissions reduction in heavy transport continues via the Low Emission Heavy Vehicle Fund, which offers grants covering up to 25% of the cost of new zero-emissions trucks or converting internal combustion engine vehicles.
“EECA is New Zealand’s lead agency and expert voice on energy use and we’re continuing to evolve to ensure we’re best placed to support the market,” Briggs says.
LETF and LEVCF at a glance:
- 17 funding rounds since 2016
- 359 projects approved
- $100.5 million in government co-investment
- $265.5 million in private capital unlocked
Final rounds (14–16): Highlights from approved projects
Round 16 – Vehicles, Technology, Off-road and Marine
Total co-funding: $469,159
- Beacon Marine Ltd – $23,100: Electric motor demonstration on an oyster barge with Pahi Oysters
- Naut Ltd – $191,206: Fully electric aquaculture vessel trial
- Cascade NZ Ltd – $60,403: Electric forklift attachments to improve energy efficiency
- 3i OPCO Ltd – $160,150: Electric excavator for vessel unloading
- Beacon Marine Ltd – $46,300: Inboard electric conversion of America’s Cup tour boat with Explore Group
Round 15 – Ports
Total co-funding: $1,630,742
- Lyttelton Port Co – $333,392: Shore power demonstration at inner harbour jetties
- CentrePort – $350,000: Electricity resource control system to support EV fleet growth
- Port of Tauranga – $447,000: Electric straddle carrier trial
- Port Otago – $343,000: Emissions reduction in long-distance container movement
- Lyttelton Port Co – $157,350: Battery electric sweeper truck trial
Round 14 – Vehicles, Technology, Off-road and Marine
Total co-funding: $2,198,620
- Etrucks Ltd – $20,000: Import and demonstration of E1400 long-range electric truck
- Port Napier Ltd – $302,000: Autonomous battery-electric container tractors and battery swap system
- ContainerCo NZL Ltd – $232,000: Electric empty container handler demonstration
- Seeka Ltd – $27,000: Custom electric ATVs for kiwifruit operations
- Lyttelton Port Co – $252,000: Battery-electric container handler trial
- Green Pacific Shipping – $500,000: 30-passenger electric foiling ferry for Auckland–Coromandel route
- Change Fuel Technologies – $97,000: Mobile hydrogen refuelling vehicle
- Rotorua Forest Haulage – $20,000: Electric truck demonstration at HPMV weights
- Action Manufacturing – $132,000: Fully electric refrigerated semi-trailer
- D&H Equipment – $242,000: Electric wheel loader for use in corrosive fertiliser plant environment
- Kwetta Ltd – $239,600: Grid-first EV fast charger pilot project
- United Civil Ltd – $135,020: 4-tonne electric excavator trial in Northland and Napier
