In a speech to the 2014 electric vehicle, industry and Government roundtable, minister for energy and resources Simon Bridges outlined a transport initiative to reduce diesel consumption and carbon emissions.
“About 42% of New Zealand’s carbon emissions are from energy use,” says Bridges.
“Transport, industrial heat and the heating of commercial buildings are responsible for three quarters of that.
“Transport is our largest consumer of energy and more than 99% of transport energy is oil-based. Light passenger vehicles represent 60% of all transport energy consumption, “ he says
“The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority will work in partnership with three road transport associations to train small to medium-sized heavy transport fleet operators to implement long-term fuel savings plans.
Bridges says the initiative will train more than 150 fleets over three years and builds on EECA’s current heavy vehicle fuel efficiency programme. The programme is expected to save up to one millions litres in diesel each year and around 7,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide (each year).
This is equivalent to the annual amount of carbon stored in a 400 hectare New Zealand pine forest.
In the second initiative, EECA will also work in partnership with the tyre industry to run an information campaign to increase the level of uptake of fuel efficient tyres.
Passenger cars are responsible for about 10% of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and increased uptake of fuel efficient tyres presents an opportunity to reduce emissions at a national level according to Bridges.
By doubling sales of fuel efficient tyres, this programme will save 2.5 million litres of fuel each year and around 6000 tonnes of carbon, which is the equivalent of taking around 1,900 cars off the road.
“These are modest but potentially important initiatives,” says Simon Bridges.
