Clean-car policies praised
New data shows the clean car discount (CCD) has led to a major reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the fleet, says Drive Electric.
According to figures published by the government, the average emissions of newly registered vehicles was stable and averaging out at 187.3gCO2/km in the 12 months before the CCD was rolled out on July 1, 2021.
From July 2021 to January 31, 2023, some 490,000 vehicles were registered with average emissions of 166.9gCO2/km for a decrease of 20gCO2/km.
Drive Electric says this will amount to two million tonnes saved over the lifetime of those vehicles. This is based on figures from the Ministry of Transport of the average vehicle in this country being driven 10,500km annually and exiting the fleet aged 20.
Mark Gilbert, chairman of Drive Electric, says Kiwis have embraced low-emissions vehicles since the CCD was introduced. “Cars already bought under the scheme will avoid up to two million tonnes of future emissions compared to the average emissions of vehicles before it,” he told Stuff.
The subsidy dropped that to an average of around 182gCO2/km, including March 2022 when many people purchased higher-emitting models before the full feebate scheme started. April last year saw a decrease to 132gCO2/km before rising to the current average of 148.8gCO2/km.
Gilbert, pictured, notes the drop of 21 per cent in average emissions of vehicles entering the fleet is far better than expected.
He adds the CCD and clean car standard are working and need to continue alongside other measures, such as “getting settings right so we can invest in charging infrastructure and encouraging fleets to rapidly transition”.
