New Zealand’s first electric milk tanker, a solar-panelled bus, electric off-road farm vehicles and new high powered EV charging stations are among the latest projects to get co-funding from the Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF).
The fund was renamed last year to reflect a change in eligibility for projects in areas like aviation, maritime and off-road vehicles along with projects using biofuel and hydrogen.
Energy and resources minister Dr Megan Woods says the projects included in this round show the potential for electric and low-emissions transport across a wide range of sectors from all-terrain farm vehicles to heavy freight.
“Some of these are hard to decarbonise, so this is great progress towards reducing our transport emissions.
“We know it makes sense to partner with business as we continue our COVID-19 economic recovery, so we can simultaneously bring down emissions, and seize the opportunities that come from creating new jobs in new industries.
“Focusing on transport in this way will also help us reduce New Zealand’s reliance on global energy prices,” Woods says.
Thirteen vehicle and technology projects will receive just over $3.45 million and 13 EV charging projects will receive $3m in co-funding in the second round for a combined total of $6.45m in government funding.
This will be matched by $9.03m in applicant funding, bringing the combined investment across these projects to $15.49m.
These include:
- Fonterra will operate NZ’s first electric 46T milk tanker with battery-swap technology at the Waitoa Depot, near Tauranga.
- Bayes Coachlines will build a passenger bus with solar panels providing 5-10% of its own power and designed to have greater range and less maintenance than other electric buses.
- MyFleet Rural will launch four Pickman 4WD, fully electric off-road UTVs throughout NZ at Field Days and A&P Shows.
- Firth Industries will deploy NZ’s first electric battery-swap concrete mixer truck, to operate in Penrose.
- IntDevice will work with Auckland Transport to deploy a wireless charging ground pad solution at the Ti Rakau Drive depot for an AT bus.
- Kiwi H2 has exclusively licensed a UK product ULEMCo Ltd for NZ to convert diesel vehicles to run on 40% hydrogen, aiming to save 40% emissions. This will help fleets decarbonise until commercially available and viable zero emissions options are available.
- Zenobe Australia will supplement DC charging capability in grid-constrained areas by installing second-life electric bus batteries.
“The Government expanded the scope of the LETF to increase its impact and encourage innovation in the transport sector,” Woods explains.
“These latest projects show the fund is doing what it is designed to do, with the sector embracing clean energy in some very sophisticated ways.”
As part of the LETF a significant boost to the nationwide EV charging network has also been confirmed.
Charging projects include:
- ChargeNet will install eight ultrafast chargers in the Auckland CBD, Napier, Whangārei and New Plymouth.
- ThunderGrid to install a fast charger in Masterton.
- Meridian will put two fast chargers in Christchurch.
- Jump Charging plans to provide two ultrafast chargers in the Agritech Business Park in Rakaia.
- Z Energy will install 12 ultrafast chargers at upper North Island locations.
The fund is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
The Government has co-funded more than 1200 public and private EV chargers. The 53 public chargers in this round bring the number of public chargers co-funded to 702 and so far 561 of these have been installed.
“The EV charging network is growing fast and should give drivers confidence an EV is a great choice, even on long-distance drives,” Woods says.
“In the last couple of years we’ve plugged gaps in places like Bombay, Kaiwaka and Tauranga.
“The focus of the LETF is now turning to ensuring any remaining gaps are filled, as we increase density in high-demand areas.”
Climate change minister James Shaw says the projects demonstrate the scale of opportunity for decarbonisation in the transport sector.
“In May, the Government will release New Zealand’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, which will be full of initiatives like these – across all sectors – to get us firmly on the path to net-zero,” Shaw adds.
An announcement will be made in advance of each funding round advising which areas of interest will be included.
Round One – Demonstration of vehicles and technology
Technology
- Zenobe Australia Pty Ltd $295,674
Portable EV charging using second-life batteries for grid constrained areas
Zenobe will supplement power in grid-constrained areas by installing portable devices made of second-life electric vehicle batteries. The project will demonstrate use for second-life batteries and enable peak shaving and seasonal peaks to be managed without installing additional charging infrastructure or renting diesel generators, and to provide power in emergency situations.
- Thundergrid $69,000
Universal Load Guard
Thundergrid’s dynamic load management (DLM) system currently works on Etrel chargers for groups of AC chargers. This project is to extend the capability to any third-party DC or AC chargers with a universal controller. This will enable DLM at any site and type of charger, allowing clients to operate within their current power capability and avoid expensive transformer and power infrastructure upgrades to operate chargers.
- Power Trip $102,000
Telematics-based optimisation, engagement, and booking solution for EV fleets
Power Trip in partnership with Direct Track will develop and market software to help fleets encourage EV uptake. This includes a collaborative pool booking solution that collects real time data from electric vehicles, provides EV trip planning, promotes the sharing of charging stations between businesses, and uses gamification and rewards to drive EV uptake among staff. The solution uses weather, map, charging station and vehicle data to predict energy consumption and optimise charging stops as well as live battery and diagnostic data from the vehicle. This will provide a more user friendly and informed experience for drivers and fleet managers.
- IntDevice Ltd $350,000
Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging
IntDevice Ltd will implement its wireless charging solution for an Auckland Transport electric bus. The bus will charge by parking in an enabled park, avoiding the need to plug in. The bus will charge at the Ti Rakau Drive depot.
- Kiwi H2 Ltd $227,000
Decarbonising industrial vehicles in Aotearoa New Zealand today
Kiwi H2 Ltd has exclusively licensed a commercialised dual fuel product from the UK, which converts diesel vehicles to run on 40% hydrogen, aiming to save 40% emissions. This will help fleets decarbonise until commercially available and viable 100% zero emission options are available in NZ. They will convert 2 trucks to use this technology in this project.
Fleet management
- EROAD Ltd $302,400
Heavy Vehicle Decarbonization Assessment and Recommendation Project
EROAD Ltd will develop a heavy fleet decarbonisation recommendation tool by using machine learning to draw intelligence from its extensive real-world telematics and driving behaviour data. It will be offered to 3800+ EROAD customers free for the first year, to incentivise early adopters. A free light version allowing manual data input will also be developed, for the wider New Zealand heavy fleet.
- Custom Fleet $227,000
E Mobility & Intelligent Charging Demonstration
Custom Fleet Ltd will develop a car share solution with charging management intelligence to optimise charging where capacity is constrained with the aim of minimising cost of charging infrastructure. Outcomes will be reduced driver anxiety, increased vehicle utilisation, and reduced fleet manager workload through the automation of processes.
Off-road
- MyFleet Rural Ltd $141,810
Pickman 4 x 4 EV agricultural Off-road UTV launch in New Zealand
MyFleet Rural Ltd will launch four Pickman 4WD, fully electric off-road UTVs throughout NZ at Field Days and A&P Shows, and undertake after show demonstration events along with industry marketing to educate a variety of agricultural users in the benefits of changing to sustainable energy in farm transportation.
Trucks
- Mainfreight Ltd $372,641
Battery Swap Electric Intercity Heavy Freight
Mainfreight Ltd will launch the first battery-swap truck for regular inter-city freight transport project, to operate between Auckland and Hamilton. The battery swap gantry and charger will be installed in Hamilton with other infrastructure to be used in Auckland.
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd $427,000
eTanker: Fonterra’s First Electric Battery Milk Collection Tanker
Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd will build and operate NZ’s first electric 46T milk tanker with battery-swap technology at the Waitoa Depot, a rural location near Hamilton. This will demonstrate how an electric milk tanker could operate and provide many insights on decarbonisation of heavy transport in rural areas.
- Firth Industries Ltd $361,000
Electric Concrete Truck
Firth Industries Ltd will deploy NZ’s first electric battery-swap concrete mixer truck, to operate in the Auckland region. This fits with their aim to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.
- Phoenix Metal Recyclers NZ Ltd $274,500
Low emissions fleet for transport in Northland
Phoenix Metal Recyclers NZ Ltd will deploy an electric 34-tonne battery-swap truck (GCM of 49,000k) in Northland to transport recycled metal and demolition waste. The 180kW charger will be made available to other transport companies in the area and their heavy vehicle using customers visiting the site each week.
Buses
- Bayes Coachlines Ltd $302,000
Trial of new generation electric bus with lighter environmental footprint
Bayes Coachlines Ltd will build a passenger bus with onboard solar panels providing 5-10% of its power. This bus will weigh 25% less than existing designs, resulting in a greater range as well as lower maintenance costs. The applicant will trial the vehicle for 12 months on existing passenger routes to gain comparability data.
Round Two – Adoption of public EV charging infrastructure
Chargers – Journey
- ChargeNet NZ Ltd – Napier $278,460
Bringing public ultra-fast (300kW) EV charging to Napier
ChargeNet NZ Ltd will install four 300kW and two 62kW charging ports, offering four high performance charging ports and two fast charging ports in central Napier. The location will be able to charge six vehicles simultaneously, and enables the newest generation of EVs to add 400km of charge in only 20 minutes.
- ChargeNet NZ Ltd – Whangarei $165,172
Bringing public ultra-fast (300kW) EV charging to Whangārei
ChargeNet NZ Ltd will install four 300kW and two 62kW charging ports located in central Whangārei. The location will be able to charge six vehicles simultaneously, and enables the newest generation of EVs to add 400km of charge in only 20 minutes.
- ChargeNet NZ Ltd – New Plymouth $223,968
Bringing public ultra-fast (300kW) EV charging to New Plymouth
ChargeNet NZ Ltd will install four 300kW and two 62kW charging ports in central New Plymouth. The location will offer four high performance charging ports and two fast charging ports, able to charge six vehicles simultaneously, and enables the newest generation of EVs to add 400km of charge in only 20 minutes.
- Z Energy Ltd – Warkworth $253,000
Z Energy North Auckland High Speed Charging
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install two ABB Terra 184kW rapid DC Chargers able to charge up to four vehicles simultaneously at the Z service station in Warkworth. The Z site is conveniently located on a major travel corridor to the North of Auckland with easy access for EV owners and onsite amenities.
- ChargeNet NZ Ltd – Auckland $197,076
Bringing public ultra-fast (300kW) EV charging to Auckland CBD
ChargeNet NZ Ltd will install four 300kW and two 62kW charging ports, offering four high performance charging ports and two fast charging ports in Auckland’s CBD. The location will be able to charge six vehicles simultaneously, and enables the newest generation of EVs to add 400km of charge in only 20 minutes.
- Z Energy Ltd – Hautapu $366,500
Z Energy Waikato High Speed Charging
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install two ABB Terra 184kW rapid DC Chargers at Z Hautapu (Cambridge) for up to 4 vehicles to charge simultaneously. This site provides full onsite amenities with easy access off the new express way.
- Z Energy Ltd – Kumeu $296,000
Z Energy West Auckland High Speed Charging
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install two ABB Terra 184kW rapid DC Chargers able to charge up to four vehicles simultaneously at the Z service station in Kumeu. The Z site provides full amenities for EV owners and is located on a major travel corridor to the northwest of Auckland.
- Z Energy Ltd – Auckland Commercial $272,000
Z Energy Auckland Commercial High Speed Charging
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install two ABB Terra 184kW rapid DC Chargers at the Z service station at Wiri in Manukau. Up to four vehicles will be able to simultaneously charge, which will help to service the region’s growing commercial EV fleet while providing on the go facilities in a to help keep drivers as productive as possible.
- Z Energy Ltd – Bethlehem $247,000
Z Energy Bay of Plenty High-Speed Charging
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install a minimum 200kW charger site at the Z service station in Bethlehem, Tauranga. The chargers will serve up to 4 vehicles simultaneously providing easy access for EV owners and onsite amenities.
- Z Energy Ltd – K Drive Pukete $413,500
Z Energy load managed high speed charging in Hamilton
Z Energy (Z) Ltd will install three dual-head 184kW DC chargers at the Z service stations in Hamilton’s K Drive and Pukete in Te Rapa. Both sites are centrally located and will help to service the needs of EV fleets in the Waikato.
Chargers – Destination
- Thundergrid $36,450
75kW 2-car Public Charger with Dynamic Load Management Trial – Masterton
Thundergrid will install 75kW dual-head charger at Moore Wilson’s in Masterton. The modular upgradeable charger will enable robust testing of dynamic load management for fast-charging developed by Thundergrid.
- Meridian Energy Ltd $77,311
Expansion of destination-based public DC charging infrastructure across Canterbury
Meridian Energy Ltd will install two 50kW chargers in Canterbury at Woodend and Oxford, close to main roads and amenities. Meridian will also install two 22kW AC chargers at their own cost. The project is part of Meridian’s nationwide charging network – Zero.
- Jump Charging Ltd $174,963
AgriTech Business Park EV Fast Charging Hub
Jump Charging in conjunction with Agritech Group will install a charging hub in the Agritech Business Park in Rakaia (25-lot Business Park), with co-funding for two 150kW high-capacity DC fast charging units each capable of simultaneous vehicle charging from a 300kW pool of power, and at their own cost, an additional twenty-four 22kW chargers as well as six 75kW chargers in future as demand dictates. The site will service demand from Business Park tenants and the growing commercial EV uptake in the Rakaia and wider Canterbury region.
